Chipotle faces its third outbreak of foodborne illness this year

Nearly two dozen people have fallen ill due to E. coli linked to the fast food restaurant Chipotle. This is the third outbreak this year for the food chain. Due to the most recent outbreak, Chipotle has voluntarily shut down 43 of its locations in Washington and Oregon. Three people in Portland and 19 people in Washington have fallen ill from consuming Chipotle in the last few weeks. Of the two dozen affected individuals, eight have been hospitalized. No deaths have been reported so far.

The Washington State Department of Health is currently investigating the cause of the outbreak. It is believed to be the cause of a fresh food product that was sent to various restaurants. Chipotle announced they are not planning on closing any other chains without evidence of the contamination spreading further.

Washington and Oregon state health officials are urging anyone experiencing intestinal symptoms that has recently eaten Chipotle since mid-October to see a doctor and get tested. Earlier this year, Chipotle was also linked with a salmonella outbreak that sickened dozens of people in Minnesota and norovirus that caused nearly 100 people to fall ill in California.

Chipotle food samples will continue to be tested by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to determine the source of the outbreak. If you have contracted a foodborne illness and are interested in compensation for the pain and suffering you experienced due to a dangerous food product, please contact the San Diego product liability attorneys of Ritter & Associates today. For more information on how we can help you, please call 619-296-0123.