CDC Reports New E. Coli Cases Linked to Chipotle

The reported illnesses connected to the E.Coli outbreak occurred after people ate at Chipotle locations at 11805 Shawnee Mission Pkwy.in Shawnee, Kan., and 765 Asp Ave.in Norman, Okla., between November 14 and November 23. Their symptoms began between November 18 and November 26 and all the individuals had consumed food from Chipotle within a week of becoming ill.

Dr. Ian Williams, chief of the CDC’s Outbreak Response & Prevention Branch said, “These recent cases occurred several weeks after the last cases in the larger outbreak and in a different geographic location”.

But what may be under-emphasized in the latest reports is that none of these new reported cases has happened in December since Chipotle completed a comprehensive reassessment of its food safety programs. Chipotle said that chains are in the process of increased testing of all of its ingredients and training workers more rigorously.

There are no reports that any of the victims died during the outbreak.

Sales growth was already starting to slow at Chipotle before the E. coli news.

A Chipotle spokesman told CNBC that the company is confident that it is improving. But the company warned earlier this month that it now expects sales to fall sharply in the fourth quarter because of the E. coli concerns.

First, the good news.

But despite the recent turmoil and a long road ahead of damage control, Newman says the chain will be able to win back lost customers.

One manager asked that a reporter contact corporate headquarters through the Chipotle.com website.

He cited a customer comment on Chipotle’s website as perfectly summarizing JP Morgan’s feelings about the company now:”I’ve been so supportive lately, but just don’t know how much more of this I can take”.

“At this point, even rational and informed consumers could potentially be given reason to pause when choosing Chipotle over the plethora of fast casual competition in the marketplace”, Ivankoe writes.

A city official confirmed to WBZ-TV on Tuesday that Chipotle will likely open again within days.