39 sick: Multistate outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O26 infections

Despite being linked to the outbreak, health officials have not officially stated that the cases were directly caused by food eaten at a chipotle location.

Dr. Scott Lindquist, Washington’s state epidemiologist, said the specific microorganism responsible for the current outbreak is Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O26.

Chipotle has temporarily closed dozens of its restaurants in Washington and Oregon out of an abundance of caution after an E. coli scare, and one of the people sickened in the outbreak has filed a lawsuit against the restaurant chain.

“Washington and Oregon report that most of the ill people ate at several locations of Chipotle Mexican Grill in those states before getting sick”, CDC stated.

If you are still confused about what E. coli is and how does it get into your food the here’s the answer.

There are no reported deaths related to the E. coli outbreak in Chipotle outlets. Investigators are still trying to determine which ingredient was contaminated.

The good news is that no one who’s reported E. coli in any other states has that same strain, which suggests the outbreak is limited to Washington and Oregon. According to public health officials in both states, theillnessmay be linked to eating at Chipotle restaurants.

Add to Chipotle’s challenges an ongoing and hostile attack campaign by the Center for Consumer Freedom, or CCF, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group headed by Rick Berman, who has been known for using aggressive tactics in the past in opposing minimum wage hikes, battling unions and supporting fracking. Chipotle also is replacing all the food in the closed locations.

Only six restaurants in Washington and Oregon have been connected to the outbreak.

Chipotle further explains that it is “conducting environmental testing in its restaurants, and food testing in its restaurants and distribution centers” in addition to the testing that is being carried out by health department officials. “I think corporate leadership needs to step back at look at their food safety culture”.

Meanwhile, a woman who ate at Chipotle in Vancouver has sued the restaurant as she began experiencing bloody diarrhea after eating at Chipotle.

A Chipotle representative declined to comment, saying the company does not discuss pending legal actions.

The company also said in the Tuesday statement that it is retaining two food safety consulting firms to help the food chain assess and improve its “already high standards for food safety”.

Bill Marler, a Seattle food safety lawyer, says three problems within a couple of months means Chipotle isn’t paying enough attention to food safety.