Chipotle Mexican Grill is paying a $25 million fine in criminal charges related to the company's involvement in foodborne illness outbreaks that sickened more than 1000 people between 2015 and 2018. The U.S. Department of Justice announced this news in a press release. Chipotle was charged with adulterating food in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The company agreed to a three-year deferred prosecution agreement that will let it avoid conviction if it complies with an improved food safety program. The $25 million criminal fine is the largest ever in a food safety case. Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt of the Department of Justice’s Civil Division said in a statement, "This case highlights why it is important for restaurants and members of the food … [Read more...]
Chipotle Confident E. coli Outbreak is Over, Food Safety Problems are History
Chipotle leadership is confident that the E. coli outbreak linked to food served at its restaurants in nine states is over and that its food safety problems are history. Chipotle CEO Steve Ells spoke at the ICR Investor Conference in Orlando, Fla. yesterday. "We are all very confident that this E. coli outbreak would not happen again," he said. The outbreak, which has sickened 53 people in nine states, has not yet been declared over by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) which last issued an update on its investigation on December 21, 2015. But Ells thinks the agency will make and announcement soon and the company can move forward in the new year with a new food safety program that will ensure it never has another year like 2015. During 2015, the company was … [Read more...]
Norovirus at Cleveland Circle Chipotle Sickens 141 BC Students
The Norovirus outbreak at the Cleveland Circle Chipotle in Boston now includes 141 Boston College students, according to the college. All but 12 of those sickened ate at the restaurant prior to developing symptoms. The 12 who did not eat at Chipotle before becoming ill, had contact with someone who was ill or something that an ill person handled. Norovirus is highly contagious. Symptoms, which include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea and abdominal cramps, usually develop within 12 to 48 hours of exposure and last up to three days. As the leading cause of food poisoning outbreaks in the U.S., Norovirus sickens about 20 million Americans every year. About 65 percent of Norovirus outbreaks happen at restaurants and originate from an infected food worker. The virus is transmitted when a … [Read more...]
BC Basketball Players Among 80 Sickened at Boston Area Chipotle
At least eight members of the Boston College men's basketball team are among 80 sickened after eating at a Boston Area Chipolte. Health officials have tested all 80 people for Norovirus and E. coli and will have results within 48 hours. Symptoms of those who became ill included vomiting and diarrhea. Several members of the Boston College basketball team were so sick they missed Sunday's game, and some of them may also miss tomorrow's game. The Boston outbreak is the latest blow to Chipotle's food safety record. Currently linked to a nine-state E. coli outbreak that has sickened 52 people, Chipotle was also linked to a September Salmonella outbreak in Minnesota and a September Norovirus outbreak in California. The E.coli outbreak includes cases in California (3), Illinois (1), … [Read more...]
