
Some recent events may cause people to think twice before eating at a Chipotle restaurant.
Chipotle has taken a beating lately thanks to some E. coli outbreaks.
Sales are way down at Chipotle Mexican Grill as E. coli outbreaks have possibly concerned customers about eating the food at the popular chain famous for its burritos, according to a Reuters report.
Shares dived 8 percent to $518 after people in nine states came down with food poisoning, and sales could drop 8 to 11 percent over the fourth quarter compared to the same time last year, Chipotle warned, which would mark the first such decline ever for the company.
And the outbreaks could get worse, if you’re concerned about coming down with E. coli. Local agencies are still uploading data, which could result in additional announcement from both federal and state authorities.
Out of 52 people who came down with E. coli in three news states, 47 of them said they ate at Chipotle shortly beforehand, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
The list of states where E. coli outbreaks have been reported include California, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington.
The company is now scrambling to tighten up its procedures for guaranteeing the safety of its food as investigators continue to dig into what caused the outbreak. Authorities suspect that a fresh produce item is responsible.
E. coli is most dangerous to children, the elderly, and people with compromised immune systems. Symptoms can be severe and include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and a host of other complications. It can take up to three to four days for symptoms to develop after contracting the illness.
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