Before Chipotle could be allowed again open the doors of its Northwest stores, health officials required that all produce there be disposed of, each establishment sanitized and new food ordered.
Advertisement
Conducting additional deep cleaning and sanitization in all its restaurants nationwide. All of Chipotle’s 43 outlets in those areas have been closed since October 31.
Almost 2 weeks of testing has failed to locate the source of the E. coli.
Khalil Rouse, a manager at the Apalachee Parkway location expressed that despite the recent outbreaks Tallahassee Chipotle restaurants have not seen a decline in their sales. Health officials, who investigated the outbreak, did not inform the public.
All fresh produce will be carefully rinsed and sanitized.
The company says it has received results of 900 tests for E. coli on samples form restaurant equipment and surfaces and all of them were negative.
Going forward the company will implement new food safety procedures at all of its locations.
Steve Ells, Chipotle’s chairman and co-chief executive officer, said in the statement, “If there are any opportunities for us to do better in any facet of our sourcing or food handling-from the farms to our restaurants-we will find them”.
At the latest count, 45 in OR and Washington have been sickened in the E. coli outbreak linked to Chipotle. However, this person did not eat at a Chipotle Mexican Grill in the week before becoming ill. “Incubation period for E. coli is typically three to four days after exposure, but may be as short as one day or as long as 10 days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention”. “Any products that were unique to the Northwest, believe me, was tested”, Dr. Scott Lindquist, of the Washington Department of Health, said. Management announced in a press release that the company has closed 43 restaurants in Washington and OR “out of an abundance of caution”, even though only eight restaurants have drawn concern from the authorities.
In preparation for the reopening, health inspectors on Tuesday scrutinized every Chipotle branch across Washington.
The restaurant chain said no cause has been established between the outbreak and any ingredient.
Advertisement
Seattle-King County Public Health confirmed that another E. coli outbreak happened in July that was linked to the Chipotle in Capitol Hill.
