Health officials reveal why nearly 650 people got sick after eating at Chipotle

The reason for the foodborne illness that sickened 647 people after eating in Chipotle in Powell, Ohio was Clostridium perfringens. The organism was found in the stool samples taken from customers. Clostridium perfringens outbreaks happen when food is left at an unsafe temperature, according to Traci Whittaker, a spokeswoman for the Delaware General Health District. In response to the outbreak, Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol said: "Chipotle field leadership will be retraining all restaurant employees nationwide beginning next week on food safety and wellness protocols." "Chipotle has a zero-tolerance policy for any violations of our stringent food safety standards and we are committed to doing all we can to ensure it does not happen again," he said. Chipotle shares fell more than 4% Thursday afternoon. Local health officials inspected the Powell Chipotle on July 26 and found violations in holding temperatures, for example, they observed that lettuce was not properly cooled and that beans were not held at a warm enough temperature. Health officials have inspected nearby Chipotle restaurants since the illness outbreak and found additional violations. In two other restaurants inspectors found foods that were not being held at proper temperatures. Chipotle has spent millions of dollars on new procedures to improve food safety after an E. coli outbreak three years ago affected restaurants in 14 states. @ https://www.businessinsider.com/chipotle-illness-outbreak-source-confirmed-health-officials-2018-8