Chipotle Mexican Grill has taken action to remove jalapeños from some of its restaurants. The decision comes after a potential link to a salmonella outbreak, currently under investigation by public health officials. In a brief statement, Chipotle emphasized that the health and safety of its guests and employees remain a top priority. The company stated that it pulled the jalapeños out of caution, replacing them with products from different suppliers wherever a previous lot was distributed.
The origin of the initial jalapeños is not specified, but Chipotle noted that these peppers were sent across multiple states to various retailers. The Minnesota Department of Health confirmed investigations into a salmonella outbreak linked to several Mexican-style quick-service restaurants. Jalapeños are the suspected source. As of now, 110 cases have been identified in Minnesota. Chipotle accounted for the majority of these cases where interviews with impacted consumers were conducted. These patrons dined at the chain between mid-June and mid-July. However, the issue is not exclusive to Chipotle.
Carlota Medus, a senior epidemiologist supervisor at the Minnesota Department of Health’s Foodborne Diseases Unit, stated that evidence suggests other restaurants also served the contaminated food. Medus noted Chipotle’s cooperation in the investigation and expressed no immediate concern about the chain’s current practices. Yet, it remains unclear if the outbreak is ongoing or if contaminated food is being served elsewhere.
The Minnesota Department of Health mentioned that other states are part of the investigation. Federally, the Food and Drug Administration is conducting a traceback probe that includes jalapeños among multiple ingredients. The FDA confirmed it began this investigation on July 22 following a cluster of salmonella cases identified by both state officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The FDA acknowledged Chipotle’s cooperation and plans to update with actionable public health information when available. The CDC did not provide comments at this time.
Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include diarrhea, fever, severe vomiting, dehydration, and stomach cramps. Most symptoms resolve within a week. However, young children, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems may experience more severe infections requiring hospitalization.
Chipotle has faced significant outbreaks between 2015 and 2018 involving E. coli, norovirus, and food poisoning, which caused a sharp decline in sales. Since then, Chipotle claims to have improved its food safety practices.
The recent salmonella outbreak adds to current challenges for the dining industry. Fast-casual chains still grapple with a separate cyclospora outbreak linked to shredded lettuce, affecting thousands nationwide. Though Chipotle has not been associated with the cyclospora outbreak, it anticipates lower sales due to these broader industry issues. Following these developments, Chipotle shares dropped nearly 10% on Tuesday.
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