The parent company of Colorado grocery chains King Soopers and City Market has removed all jalapeno peppers from its stores as a precaution.

Kroger co. spokeswoman Meghan Glynn says it decided to halt jalapeno sales after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported Monday that a McAllen, Texas, distributor was recalling jalapenos that had the potential to be contaminated with salmonella.

The government is warning against eating fresh jalapenos or products containing them while it investigates a national salmonella outbreak first linked to tomatoes.

Cincinnati-based Kroger operates nearly 2,500 stores in 31 states.