• Allison Miles •
• Originally published July 22, 2008 at 9:34 p.m., updated July 22, 2008 at 9:34 p.m.

H-E-B has pulled all fresh jalapenos, fresh pico de gallo and other prepared foods containing raw jalapenos from its shelves following the United States Food and Drug Administration’s warning that the peppers might be linked with salmonella, the grocery chain announced Monday night.

The recall was done voluntarily and is only a precaution, according to a company news release.

Ensuring customer safety is H-E-B’s top priority, Winell Herron, the H-E-B Group vice president of public affairs and diversity, said in the release.

“We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will return the product to our stores once it is absolutely safe for our customers,” he said.

The recall excludes canned, cooked and pickled jalapenos, according to the release.

Jalapenos are still available from other Victoria grocery stores.

Dick’s Food Store on Crestwood Drive received word on Friday that its jalapeno shipments might decrease in the near future, but they remain on the shelves, manager Colin Keag said.

“We haven’t had anything else sent to us yet,” he said. “Whatever we have right now we’ll be able to use.”

Victoria’s Wal-Mart Supercenter on Navarro Street will also continue to stock the peppers until the company’s jalapeno supply is linked to salmonella, Support Manager Alicia Alvarez said.

“It’s actually a corporate decision,” she said. “We’re not going to do it store by store, but we’re going to do all stores.”

You’ll also find the peppers lining the shelves at Victoria Produce on Houston Highway, owner Kevin Dick said.

Dick estimated he sells between 500 and 600 pounds of jalapenos a week, mostly wholesale to local restaurants.

Some customers are leery of the products, he said, but if they have questions he tries to answer them.

“I have them in stock, but I’m leaving it up to the individual,” he said. “I’ve talked to all my suppliers and they don’t seem too worried about it.”

Houston resident Rosanna Foyt eyed Victoria Produce’s fruits and vegetables during her visit to town Tuesday.

The jalapeno warnings don’t phase her and neither did the tomato scare, she said, noting she will continue to buy and eat the vegetables she always has.

“Try to eat pico de gallo without tomato,” she said with a chuckle.

And Norma Pulci, another out-of-towner, agreed.

The FDA has switched its focus between several fruits and vegetables during the salmonella scare, she said.

“I don’t think they really know,” she said. “There is something out there but they don’t know what.”

Allison Miles is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact her at 361-580-6511 or amiles@vicad.com, or comment on this story at www.VictoriaAdvocate.com.

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