The first cases were discovered late last month in OR and Washington, and more recently in Minnesota. There have been no deaths.
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Accroding to the CDC, 45 people are now reported to be infected with the outbreak strain of STEC O26 have now been reported from a total of 6 states: California (2), Minnesota (2), NY (1), OH (1), OR (13), and Washington (26). The restaurants have since reopened.
In October Chipotle closed 43 of its restaurants in OR and Washington, but they have since re-opened, the Associated Press reports.
In wake of the original outbreak in OR and Washington, Chipotle hired consultants on food safety and had its restaurants thoroughly cleaned.
The CDC recommends that people who get diarrhea after eating at a Chipotle contact their doctor.
Chipotle said affected individuals reported eating at two restaurants in Turlock, Calif; one in Akron, OH; one in Amherst, NY; and one in Burnsville, Minn.
The source of food contamination is not perfectly known but a few investigators are in view the meats served in the restaurants were undercooked as high heat kills E. coli.
Shares of the Denver-based restaurant chain plunged 12.5 percent to $534.99, a new low for the year.
Illnesses that occurred after October 31 might not be reported yet due to the time it takes between when a person becomes ill and when the illness is reported, which can take 2-3 weeks, according to the CDC. As for what menu item might be the culprit, CBS reports the CDC is still investigating the source, backtracking through company’s supply chain. Chairman and co-CEO of Chipotle, Steve Ells, said in a statement the company will “leave no stone unturned”.
Heat kills E. coli, so the latest outbreak will likely be traced to a vegetable or other unheated product on the Chipotle menu. The outbreak hospitalized more than a dozen people. The CDC cautioned the number of people sickened by the outbreak could increase because there could be cases that have yet to be reported or confirmed.
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The company is at the center of the so-called fast casual revolution, winning raves from customers and investors for the quality of its food. “In response to this incident, Chipotle has taken aggressive steps to make sure its restaurants are as safe as possible”.
