The Centers for Disease Control released an update about the Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infections, revealing that six states are now linked to the outbreak that has sickened at least 45 people when it was first reported last month.
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“We take this incident very seriously because the safety of our food and wellbeing of our customers is always our highest priority”, said Steve Ells, chairman and co-CEO of Chipotle.
The evidence suggests that an ingredient or “common meal item” served by Chipotle in several states was the source of the outbreak, the agency said in a statement on Friday.
On November 17, the CDC said one person in Minnesota also got sick from an E. coli strain that had the same “DNA fingerprint” as the cases in OR and Washington.
Chipotle’s stock is down 18.8 percent for the year to date.
There have been no other cases associated with this outbreak in Erie County or NY State.
The burrito chain has been trying to put the previous outbreak behind it, announcing on November 10 its was reopening its 43 restaurants in Seattle and Portland, Ore. after closing them amid an E. Coli outbreak there.
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Chipotle shares are getting pummeled as investors worry the company food health issues are a broader concern. In that case, authorities identified tainted tomatoes as the source.
