Chipotle has been in the new recently for all the wrong reasons, including outbreaks of different food-related viruses such as salmonella, E. coli, and most prevalently the norovirus. This could spell trouble to the popular food chain as news like this can drive them into obscurity pretty quickly.
In a recent report by the Pacific Coast Business Times, it is said that a federal criminal probe has now been called upon by authorities to investigate the over 200 cases of food-related illness caused by Chipotle. Some reports say that this is due to the fact that there are too many cases in too many locations for it to simply be passed on as a case of food poisoning.
What was once a popular hangout for college students and young adults has been plagued by a recent case of norovirus outbreak at a Boston branch. The resulting contagion caused over 140 college students to get sick. A recent outbreak of E. coli traced back to Chipotle also say 53 people get sick across nine different states. The CDC has also announced additional cases in three more states.
Because of this incident, Chipotle has been forced to close down a number of its branches. Consumer confidence is on the extreme low as their same-store sales are reportedly down by 34 percent.
Chipotle's sales are not the only figures to take a huge hit because of theses cases. Their stock also plummeted by as much as 30 percent before the end of 2015. Although Chipotle reportedly offers full tuition reimbursement for its employees as well as paid sick days, they will have trouble finding new employees especially since in the first place, people are now hesitant to go there and eat. Chipotle has said that they will try to remedy this situation to the best of their abilities.
