Bozeman Lawsuit Follows Natl. Salmonella Outbreak Linked To Jalapeños

Bozeman, Mont. — A Bozeman family has filed a lawsuit after a 16-year-old got salmonella after eating jalapeños at Chipotle as a nationwide outbreak has reached Montana. 

The CDC first confirmed the outbreak on Wednesday, August 5th. They say the outbreak involves 27 different states across the country, resulting in 345 hospitalizations. So far, no deaths related to the outbreak have been reported. 

The situation began after the products from Sinaloa, Mexico were distributed across the country, through the distribution company Coast Citrus Distributors. 

The formal complaint from the Bozeman family to Chipotle was filed Aug. 5 in Gallatin County District Court. Court documents say the incident involves food eaten on July 9th at the Chipotle location of 1919 West Main Street in Bozeman. The complaint says the food was contaminated with salmonella from jalapeños. 

Salmonella is a bacterium that affects the intestinal tract in humans because of contaminated food that is often laced with animal feces. The CDC confirmed at least five cases in Montana tied to the outbreak.  

The case in Bozeman is now moving through court.  

Chipotle says it removed jalapeños from its restaurant locations and released a statement about the outbreak.  

"The health and safety of our guests and our employees is our highest priority. The recalled jalapeño peppers are no longer in Chipotle restaurants and given these actions, the C-D-C and F-D-A have said they do not consider there to be a current ongoing risk from Chipotle restaurants in this outbreak," the company said in part. 

The contamination has also raised concerns in Bozeman as the teen's condition has changed after eating the salmonella-laced Jalapeños. According to court documents, the boy has now been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, a bowel disease that causes ulcers in the lining of the large intestine.  

The family is asking the court for Chipotle to pay all damages and court costs tied to the lawsuit.  

For those wanting to learn more about the outbreak, they can visit cdc.gov.