Times are rough for Chipotle.
Following a series of illness breakouts in 2015, the fast food chain has attempted to regain the public’s trust through the implementation of new food safety practices, menu additions, and enhanced marketing tactics. But does any of that really matter if their food continues to make customers blow chunks?
According to Bloomberg, Chipotle stock prices fell 4.6 percent Wednesday following reports of another potential outbreak at one of its L.A. locations. Public health officials began investigating the restaurant, located at 4550 W. Pico Blvd., when they received reports of customers and employees with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Some of those who allegedly got sick described their experience on iwaspoisoned.com, a site that allows customers to report suspected foodborne illnesses.
“My whole family and I ate at Chipotle two days before we started experiencing stomach pains and nausea,” one customer wrote. “It was constant vomiting every 2 hours and weakness. We all had burrito bowls with meat, beans, rice, and quac. The symptoms lasted for two days now. We're starting to feel better, but it was a very uncomfortable experience and we won't be going to Chipotle anymore after this.”
Chipotle spokesman Chris Arnold told Business Insiderthat the company is aware of the matter and has taken necessary steps to contain any potential outbreak; however, he said Chipotle has not received any direct complaints from customers.
“We take any report of illness very seriously. We are aware of three reports (two of which appear to be the same) on a user-generated reporting site, but there is no clinical validation associated with those reports, and we have not been contacted by customers directly to substantiate these claims,” he said. “As a precautionary measure, we have implemented heightened sanitization measures at this restaurant, which we do as a matter of policy if ever we receive reports of illness (even if they are not substantiated).”
