By Eve Barnofsky
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - “Food with integrity”, an adage adorning the Chipotle menu, greets all
customers when they walk into one of Chipotle’s many locations. With the recent E. Coli
outbreaks, does Chipotle’s food have the integrity that they proudly allege?
E. coli, a bacteria found within the intestines of humans and many other animals, is
harmless under normal conditions, however, certain strains can cause food poisoning and, in
excessive amounts, can be lethal.
The initial Chipotle E. coli outbreak was reported at Chipotle’s Seattle location in July
2015, causing five people to fall ill, with the source of the illness a mystery.
In August of that same year, at a Chipotle location in Simi Valley, California, people
became sick from Norovirus, which is similar to E. coli. Norovirus differs from E. coli in that it
is transmitted through person-to-person contact and causes nausea, vomiting, and abdominal
pain. The source, in this case, turned out to be a sick Chipotle employee.
In September 2015, customers of a Minnesota Chipotle location reported being sick. It
was discovered soon after that the source of contamination was from tomatoes, however, it was
not known at what point of handling that the tomatoes had become contaminated.
Nine other states had reported E. coli outbreaks by October 2015, but the source of the E.
coli remained unknown.
By December 2015, the outbreak was still not declared over. Two more states had
reported cases of E. coli.
California, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania,
Washington, Kansas, Oklahoma were all states reporting that a Chipotle location was a source of
an E. Coli outbreak. Eleven states, in total, had discovered that E. coli had infected costumers.
On Feb. 1, 2016 the CDC declared that the outbreak was over.
Chipotle decided to close all locations nation-wide on Feb. 8, 2016 in order to conduct
food safety meetings.
Deana Hopeck, a crew worker at Chipotles Plattsburgh, N.Y. location, was part of the
food safety meeting.
The staff watched videos on what had happened and how to prevent it from happening
the Plattsburgh location.
“Since the meeting so many new precautions have been put in place. We have a lot of
new different cleaning methods and a bunch of new cleaning supplies.” said Hopeck.
Having worked in restaurants before, she felt that Chipotle has always had good safety
proceedings.
Chipotle, since the outbreak, has changed the way its food is being both tested and
handled. As Hopeck said, they are also changing the cleaning methods as well as having new
safety training.
“It was clean to begin with and now it’s even cleaner, so I think they just got unlucky
with what happened.” said Hopeck.
Chipotle also sent out coupons to costumers on their mailing list. These coupons were for
free chips and salsa with a purchase of a menu item and for a free, burrito, bowl, taco and salad.
They also have a game online called Guac Hunter where you have a chance to win free
guacamole.
This outbreak though hasn't seemed to affect costumers at the Plattsburgh location.
Zach Bessarab, a frequent costumer at Chipotle, says the outbreak hasn't affected his
decision on whether or not he gets Chipotle.
“It’s too good not to have. I come here at least once a week and it hasn't affected me yet,
so I don't think it will.” said Bessarab.
Others share this opinion as well. Tim Houghtaling, another frequent costumer, feels as if
nothing has happened.
“I still go there two or three times a week. They’ve kept up pretty well, especially
handing out those free coupons for food.” said Houghtaling.
The Chipotle in Plattsburgh is still going strong. According to Hopeck people come in
with questions but people don't seem to be concerned.
Gavin Reken feels that the outbreak hasn't affected his opinion of Chipotle in any way.
“It hasn't affected me in any personal way. They gave me free food and I’m all for that.”
said Reken.
The Plattsburgh Chipotle location has not been affected by the E. coli. With the new
safety measures and the outbreaks over, there is hope that there will not be more out breaks.
However it does seem like with or without E. coli people will still be going to Chipotle.
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