Chipotle probed for new outbreak of different e. coli strain

Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc., still reeling from recent outbreaks of E. coli and norovirus at its restaurants, is now being investigated for its link to a new spate of illnesses in three additional states.

Chipotle has been linked to an E.coli outbreak that has sickened 53 people in nine states.

According to CDC, five people have been reported sick after eating at Chipotle’s restaurant in Kansas, North Dakota, and Oklahoma from November 18-20.

A similar outbreak of E. coli illnesses linked to Taco Bell restaurants in 2006 sent same-store sales into negative territory for five straight quarters, Quartz reports. Since the time issue has started, Chipotle has carried out a comprehensive reassessment of its food safety programs in order to have best practices for each of the ingredients the company uses. The five new cases have a “different, rare DNA fingerprint of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O26”, the institute said in a statement. Taylor Farms officials cited that report as the all clear for their products even though FDA officials said there could have been undetected pathogens in the fresh-cut mix.

Chipotle Mexican Grill has been hit by a barrage of bad news.

“We have indicated before that we expected that we may see additional cases stemming from this, and CDC is now reporting some additional cases”, Arnold wrote. He said Chipotle will have to rethink its entire supply chain to keep customers safe and not have to cook virtually all food to ensure its safety.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration conducted a traceback investigation to determine which ingredient was linked to the illnesses, but the probe could not identify a common source of contamination, the CDC said.

“While it is never possible to completely eliminate all risk, this program eliminates or mitigates risk to a level near zero, ” he said earlier this month.

With sick customers around the country, Chipotle’s bottom line has been damaged, with stock down 4 percent on Tuesday.

Meantime, Chipotle’s stock continues to react negatively.

The more recent cases are the latest blow for Chipotle, which also closed a restaurant in Boston earlier this month after more than 140 students at Boston College reported feeling gastrointestinal symptoms.

Chipotle has become the butt of jokes on social media, with people tweeting and posting Instagram photos about how they hope to not come down with E. coli after eating a burrito bowl.