The burrito chain is coming under tough times recently, after having been linked a few weeks ago to a mysterious E. coli outbreak in OR – and now, things are bad in Boston, too!
A manager at the Chipotle location in New Haven declined to comment Tuesday, requesting questions be forwarded to corporate, which also didn’t respond; Chris Arnold, a spokesman for Chipotle, did not return a call seeking comment.
An inspector temporarily suspended Chipotle’s permit after finding three violations: cooked chicken and steak was below the proper holding temperature of 140 degrees and an employee working despite being sick.
The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), the City of Boston Inspectional Services Department (ISD), and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health launched an investigation to determine the cause and the nature of the illness. In most people, the illness is self-limiting with symptoms lasting for about 1 or 2 days.
The Massachusetts Department of Health said the norovirus caused an outbreak that sickened at least 80 Boston College students, including some basketball players, who ate at a nearby Chipotle restaurant.
The virus is very contagious and can be spread through food, water, touching contaminated surfaces or having contact with an infected person, health officials said.
The symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and some stomach cramping. During the summer, almost 100 (80 customers and 18 employees) at a Simi Valley Chipotle were sickened by norovirus.
The most recent illness started November 13, according to the CDC.
The food chain said that no cases of E.coli in Boston have been linked to the company.
That outbreak, the company’s third food safety incident since August, has raised concern about potential damage to the fast-growing brand that has won a loyal following for its food made with fresh produce, meats raised without antibiotics and ingredients that are free of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs.
Since the original E. coli incident, Chipotle’s stock shares have fallen at least eight percent.
Choi reported from NY.
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