Guacamole recall upgraded to highest risk level as urgent Salmonella warning issued

The US Food and Drug Administration has upgraded a recall of guacamole to the highest risk level, amid the ongoing Salmonella outbreak in the US and UK.

As reported by PEOPLE Magazine, an FDA enforcement report shows that Whole Foods voluntarily recalled its mild Guacamole Dip due to a potential contamination on 7 August.

The recall was categorised as Class I, meaning there is a ‘reasonable probability that the use of or exposure to’ the affected item ‘will cause serious adverse health consequences or death’.

The reason for this was that ‘salsa and Guacamole products were made with jalapeños that may be contaminated with Salmonella’.

It affects 12,995 units of the dip in various sizes, with best-before or best-by dates ranging from 7 August 2026 to 12 August, 2026.

The PLU codes of the recalled items are: 21211600000, 21501700000, 25705700000, 25054100000, and 25926000000 (part of Dip Trio).

The enforcement report also outlines that the affected dips were packed for the Whole Foods Market locations at 1745 W. Market Street in Akron, Ohio, or 4301 W. William Cannon in Austin, Texas.

The jalapeños used in the dips may be contaminated with Salmonella (Getty Stock Image)

They were distributed in Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin.

The recall was expanded on 12 August, and Whole Foods pulled more products made with jalapeños supplied by Coast Citrus Distributors from shelves - a company from Sinaloa, Mexico that’s been linked to the Salmonella outbreak.

As per the New York Post, among the recalled items are:

• Whole Foods Mild Guacamole Dip
• Whole Foods Mild Guacamole Dip No Tomatoes
• Whole Foods Spicy Guacamole Dip
• Whole Foods Medium Pico de Gallo Guacamole Dip
• Whole Foods Pomegranate Guacamole Dip
• Whole Foods Roasted Corn Guacamole Dip
• Whole Foods Trio Dip, containing pico de gallo, guacamole and salsa
• Whole Foods Mango Pineapple Salsa

You can find full details of the recalled products and identifying codes on the FDA website.

A spokesperson for Whole Foods told PEOPLE in a statement: “No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with these products. Nothing matters more to us than our customers’ safety.

“We’ve pulled all recalled products from our shelves. Customers who purchased any of these products from us should throw them away and contact us for a refund.”

It comes at the same time as a UK Salmonella outbreak that's been linked to eggs (Getty Stock Image)

Meanwhile, over in the UK, cases of salmonella linked to imported eggs have risen to nearly 500, according to BBC News.

The broadcaster outlined that the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported 207 cases last week, which has since increased to 259, before two new clusters brought the figure to 474, and there have also been two deaths recorded.

Cases across all three clusters have increased since June, and their genetics suggest they may all be linked to imported eggs.

Although investigations are ongoing, it’s thought that people are getting ill after eating eggs while out for food rather than cooking them at home.

There is no evidence that eggs produced in the UK are affected and the risk to the public remains low.

Officials have reiterated that babies, young children, pregnant women and older people should only eat thoroughly cooked eggs in restaurants and cafes.