Chipotle announces raft of changes following E. coli outbreak

To investigate this second wave, the FDA has combined forces with state and local authorities, plus the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which on Monday first announced an investigation into five cases of the variant E. coli infections. The sickened people from Kansas and North Dakota reportedly ate at the same Chipotle restaurant in Kansas before falling ill. The three Oklahoma cases are all linked to a Chipotle in the city of Norman near the University of Oklahoma’s campus.

The 53 illnesses included in the outbreak were matched through genetic fingerprinting tests of the E. coli O26 bacteria. The other states linked are California (3 cases), IL (1), Maryland (1), Minnesota (2), NY (1), OH (3), OR (13), Pennsylvania (2), and Washington (27).

Symptoms of an E. coli infection, including abdominal cramps, diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, vomiting and sometimes a fever of less than 101˚F, usually develop one to three days after exposure and last about a week. But STEC 026 can also cause more severe illness, which can lead to kidney failure. There have been no reports of death in the outbreak. It has been suggested that a common meal item or ingredient served at the restaurants in several states is a likely source of the both outbreaks.

In recent months, the chain has suffered from E. coli, salmonella, and norovirus outbreaks. Multiple health and safety violations were discovered at the restaurant by officials, an employee that was sick and meat that was being stored at the wrong temperatures.

Earlier this month, Chipotle said it would do more high-resolution testing of all fresh produce for potential pathogens, including DNA-based tests of all fresh produce before it is shipped to restaurants, a program that company officials described as far exceeding requirements of state and federal regulatory agencies. Burnsed said the source of the earlier E. coli outbreak is being investigated. Also, the burrito-maker’s stock has plummeted in response to the outbreaks.

At midday Wednesday, Chipotle’s stock continued to trade at less than $500 a share, falling this week below that mark for the first time since May 2014.