By: Alex Patt
The popular casual Mexican chain, Chipotle is in crisis mode as numerous reports of E. coli illnesses have been linked to consumption of the beloved restaurant’s food.
In the past two weeks, 43 Chipotle locations in the Pacific Northwest have been shut down due to the outbreak. 41 cases of illness have been reported along with about a dozen hospital visits so far. Though according to Chipotle chairman, Steve Ells said that there the list of locations directly linked to the E. coli outbreak is only around eight; precaution is being taken in the closing of numerous franchises in the region (Source, cbsnews.com).
Studies have been done to see what kind of strand has been people getting sick, and what products from the restaurant were infected. According to cbsnews.com, the strand of E. coli that was identified is said to be in vegetables and/or spices. More tests will be done to determine the source of the bacteria, and how it spread to the Chipotle restaurants of the Pacific Northwest. The chain is able to track where ingredients are grown and produced, which will hopefully tell us where the outbreak began.
Chipotle locations in business are taking extreme precautions in the mean time by disinfecting entire facilities and replacing all food products which are monitored carefully.
There are no reports of E. coli in Chicago locations, so if you CUC students had Chipotle recently, do not panic. It is most likely safe right now, but it would also be safe to probably stay away from the restaurant until it is all figured out. Soon we will be enjoying the burrito bowls and chips with guacamole with no concern again.
