For the past few months, Chipotle has been under the radar, with federal authorities investigating a pathogenic E. coli strain, which has now affected 52 people across nine states, with 47 of these individuals saying they ate at Chipotle right before they fell sick. To date, 52 people have become ill with E. Coli within a week of eating at a Chipotle restaurant in October and November, with 20 having been hospitalized. Symptoms of the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, including sometimes-bloody diarrhea and cramps, usually strike three to four days after ingesting the bacteria. That was up from the six states and 45 illnesses as of late November.
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Though the investigations are still going on to find out which specific food is linked to illness, but CDC epidemiologist, who is leading the investigation revealed in an interview that “probably it isn’t a meat” because numerous people who were infected by food poisoning were vegetarians.
In addition, the company forecast its fourth quarter comparable restaurant sales to be in a range of negative 8% to negative 11%. Only about 40 percent of reported foodborne disease outbreaks from 2002 to 2011 were solved, according to the watchdog group Center for Science in the Public Interest. The agency has not yet determined the ingredient responsible.
The Denver-based chain known for touting the quality of its ingredients said it hired IEH Laboratories in Seattle to help improve its procedures. It said it will also enhance employee training for food safety and handling. Its shares have dropped 25 percent since mid-October.
Chipotle spokesman Chris Arnold said in an email that “none of the ingredients that were in our restaurants at the time of this incident are still in our restaurants”. The company noted that its local produce program accounts for a “relatively small percentage” of the produce it uses.
Chipotle warned Friday that an outbreak of E. coli linked to its restaurants is hurting its sales and warned that if recent trends continue, it expects earnings for the current quarter to come in way below analysts’ prediction.
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The New York Times reported about how the stocks of Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc.
