Chipotle CEO ‘deeply sorry’ about customers who fell sick from norovirus

He went on to say that once the implementation of the new food safety practices is complete, the restaurant chain will be 10-15 years ahead of the standards set by the restaurant sector.

An investigation by the FDA was unable to determine a source of the E. coli outbreak. In that case, a notovirus is believed to have been the culprit.

After years of strong growth and accolades, Chipotle suddenly is facing the same critical challenge brand names such as Costco and Blue Bell ice cream confronted when serious questions were raised about the quality or safety of one of their products.

Chipotle Communications Director Chris Arnold told Patch Monday night that there is “no evidence to suggest this is E.coli” in Boston, and referred to a company statement.

“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.

Sales of Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. have been slammed by high-profile food scares in recent weeks.

Chipotle’s stock slid more than 7 per cent in after-market trading. “They are having a tough time and I feel awful about that”, Mr. Ells said”.

The founder and CEO of Chipotle apologized to America on Thursday, saying new health procedures at the troubled chain will ensure that “we are going to be the safest place to eat”, he said on the Today show.

Chipotle has gone from beloved fast food joint for Millennials to the butt of jokes.

Transparency will be Chipotle’s best ally moving forward, especially given Chipotle’s broad following, said Mario Almonte, partner at the New York-based Herman & Almonte Public Relations. She said falling ill during final exams has impacted the end of the semester. Scores of Boston College students fell ill after eating at the location in Cleveland Circle – many experiencing nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

It looks like the company’s shares have finally taken a breather. An additional 12 who did not eat at Chipotle reported similar symptoms.

Experts say Chipotle’s plan to improve food safety will face challenges that reflect deeper problems in the industry.

Initially, officials were concerned that the illnesses, which affected Boston College students, including eight basketball players, were the result of E.coli, an outbreak of which at Chipotle Mexican Grill spread from the west coast across the U.S.

Moran also said the company would avoid marketing until the CDC has wrapped up its investigation, then run full-page print ads with letters of apology as well as a public information campaign that’s “perhaps more transparent, than any other company has ever been with regard to what happened and what we did”.