Chipotle CEO: ‘We Are Going to Be the Safest Place to Eat’

Boston College reported Thursday that 141 students have said they suffered norovirus symptoms after eating last weekend at the Cleveland Circle Chipotle.

The company’s “food with integrity” slogan seems absurd at a time when over 80 Boston College students – including members of the basketball team – are sick after eating at a Chipotle restaurant near the campus. Chipotle closed a restaurant Monday afternoon in Boston after more than 100 fell ill due to a norovirus.

Steve Ells, co-chief executive officer of the restaurant chain, also pledged that strict new food-safety practices would prevent future outbreaks.

“While it is never possible to completely eliminate all risk, this program eliminates or mitigates risk to a level near zero, and will establish Chipotle as the industry leader in this area”, said Mansour Samadpour, who was hired by Chipotle to advise the company on safety procedures. The company has said it is tightening its food safety procedures, and that some of its local produce suppliers might not be able to meet the new standards.

Ché Knight, health commission spokeswoman, said officials are sorting through cases reported by BC and the number could rise, but she had no new information by midday Thursday. “We’re doing a lot to rectify this and make sure this doesn’t happen again”. He added the chain has upgraded its safety protocols, which he claimed will put the chain more than a decade ahead of industry norms. This illness, distinct from norovirus, is caused by consuming food contaminated with E. coli bacteria, leading to symptoms that include diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, according to the Mayo Clinic.

“The customer reaction to E. coli headlines (which initially emerged on November 1 and then recurred on November 20) was more severe than expected”, wrote Jason West of Credit Suisse in a research note this week.

“The health department in Boston confirmed that norovirus was the cause of this incident (which was the speculation very early on), and that cases tied to us all occurred at a single location in Boston”, he told USA Today.

Chipotle has also been dealing with an E. coli outbreak linked to its restaurants out west that sickened dozens of people in late October.

Vetr cut shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. After these health issues, shares of the company have decreased in value, but Ells is certain that the chain will recover financially and emerge safer and cleaner than ever, noted Reuters.

The City of Boston temporarily closed the restaurant until further notice.

Chris Arnold, a Chipotle spokesman, also said an employee coming in sick was in violation of the company’s policies.

Company shares, down more than 10 percent in the past month, rebounded sharply after Ells’ interview, and were lately up more than 4 percent.