Here's how Chipotle got 500 people sick

Summary

Chipotle, once known for promoting itself as a healthy fast-food option, faced major challenges in 2015 after several foodborne illness outbreaks. Starting with E. coli in Washington, followed by Salmonella in Minnesota, and multiple norovirus incidents, including one at Boston College, around 500 people fell ill. The CDC and Department of Justice launched investigations, and Chipotle temporarily closed many stores. Despite efforts to manage the fallout, the company's reputation and sales took a significant hit, leading to an ongoing food safety crisis.

Takeaways

• 🌯 Chipotle initially marketed itself as a healthy alternative to traditional fast food, gaining high profits.
• 🤒 The company faced significant challenges when multiple foodborne illness outbreaks were linked to its restaurants.
• 🦠 In July, five people in Washington State got sick with E. coli after eating at a Chipotle store in Seattle.
• 🍅 A Salmonella outbreak in Minnesota, linked to bad tomatoes, infected 81 people in August.
• 🤢 In California, 17 employees at a Chipotle restaurant were sick with norovirus, which later infected 234 people.
• 📉 Chipotle’s stock fell after an E. coli outbreak in October led to the closure of 43 stores across multiple states.
• 🕵️ The CDC launched a multi-state investigation to identify the source of the E. coli outbreak.
• 🏫 In December, norovirus caused 141 students at Boston College to get sick, including the entire basketball team.
• 🚨 By February, the CDC declared the E. coli outbreak over, but Chipotle was unable to pinpoint the cause.
• ⚖️ The Department of Justice is investigating Chipotle for potential criminal activity related to food safety issues.

Q & A

What led to Chipotle's initial health-related issues in 2015?

Chipotle's problems started when five people in Washington State got sick with E. coli after eating at a Seattle store in July 2015.

How did Chipotle respond to the Salmonella outbreak in Minnesota?

In response to the Salmonella outbreak that infected 81 people in Minnesota, Chipotle switched suppliers.

What other health issue occurred at a Chipotle store in California?

In California, 17 employees at a Chipotle store became sick with norovirus, which led to 234 people catching the virus.

Why did Chipotle's health problems become a national concern?

Chipotle's health issues became a national concern when a multi-state E. coli outbreak occurred, prompting the CDC to launch an investigation.

How did Chipotle's stock react to the E. coli scare?

Chipotle's stock fell after news broke that it was temporarily closing dozens of stores due to the E. coli outbreak.

What was the CDC's role in the Chipotle crisis?

The CDC launched a multi-state investigation to determine the source of the illnesses linked to Chipotle stores, reminding the public of the company's ongoing health problems.

What happened at Boston College in December 2015?

In December 2015, a norovirus outbreak at Chipotle caused 141 students at Boston College to get sick, including the entire basketball team.

How many people fell ill after eating at Chipotle in the second half of 2015?

In total, about 500 people became ill after eating at Chipotle in the second half of 2015 due to various health outbreaks.

What was the outcome of the CDC's investigation in February 2016?

In February 2016, the CDC declared the multi-state E. coli outbreak over but could not find anything in common between the affected Chipotle restaurants.

What legal consequences is Chipotle facing as a result of these health issues?

Chipotle is under investigation by the Department of Justice for possible criminal activity related to food safety.