Let's turn to something else: Chipotle - lots to consider

[Pea-n-Me]

Re: Chipotle - take your pick, any or all open for discussion:

1) The restaurant chain has now had several types of food poisoning outbreaks in various locations - norwalk virus, salmonella, hepatitis A and e coli.

http://www.businessinsider.com/chipotles-past-food-poisoning-outbreaks-2015-11

2) Chipotle is realizing they may need to re-think their use of "local" produce and meat - which affects their whole business strategy - and food safety procedures, which may not be stringent enough.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/...a2-11e5-9ad2-568d814bbf3b-20151208-story.html

3) Will Chipotle survive this? Sales are down. Prices going up. Shares are falling.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/busines...tory.html?p1=Article_Related_Box_Article_More

4) Do you, or would you, still eat there? Many in this area (MA) were previously unconcerned with outbreaks. This past weekend, numerous local college students who recently ate in a Boston Chipotle all became sickened. Cases are now being investigated by the MA DPH, the restaurant was closed down, etc.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2...ng-chipotle/XvdhuZ5M1lw5q5oYuIrqhL/story.html

I'll be honest. I have never been to Chipotle, although I've heard good things, and always meant to try it. They have a big following in these parts. But right now, I would not enjoy my meal there. We have experienced food borne illness before, and it's no fun.

ETA fixed the numbers

 

[SparklePixie]

5)We used to be frequent Chipotle customers. We haven't been to one since the first outbreak.

They need to be more concerned about the safety of their food, not how it lived.

 

[jrmasm]

I go about once a week and plan to continue. No cause for concern in my area.

 

[MickeySP]

Never eaten in one, no plans to do so . There are way better authentic Mexican places in the Boston area than doing a cookie cutter chain place.

 

[Teresa Pitman]

There are not many Chipotles near me but (as a vegan) it is a place I have relied on when I travel in the US. Don't know what to think about these issues but I hope they can resolve it soon. I love being able to do a black bean and veggie burrito...

 

[anniemae]

We have been many many times to Chipotle. I think the food is good, fresh and quick. Love the guac and chips also. I admit I am hesitant to go now. I love how they were going non-gmo, but I have a hard time going there now. Have not been in a while and have no plans to any time in the near future.

 

[pryncess527]

Never eaten in one, no plans to do so . There are way better authentic Mexican places in the Boston area than doing a cookie cutter chain place.

Ditto.

 

[Meriweather]

I have only been to a Chipotle's twice.....I like a local place better, so will just continue what I normally do

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

I really dislike their food. I like Moe's better.

 

[mefordis]

Yes, I'll continue to go there. Our local Chipotle is very popular.

 

[mnrose]

Eh. I eat there occasionally, and will still do so. I don't think their track record is any worse than any other chain place, it's just that they are in the news now. And, frankly, I trust "local" produce (where I know the producer and/or can visit the farm) way, way more than factory farms

 

[cepmom]

we are frequent Chipotle customers...it's my girls favorite place to eat. In fact DD's dance team just had wildly successful fundraiser there (Chipotle donated 50% of sales for one night) but now that this food borne illness has turned up in MA, I don't know how quickly I'll head back there

 

[elgerber]

I am eating it as I type this, the second time in 3 days

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I really dislike their food. I like Moe's better.

"Welcome to Moe's!" I have been there before, lol. (Not actually a huge fan of Mexican.)

I guess the concerning part is that the produce and other "cold" foods don't have a "kill step", i.e. cooking. If germs are on the food, either from being present on the food itself, or from infection via an ill employee, the diner ingests it directly.

The E Coli they're battling (026) is not the type typically from beef (0157) - it's a different type, probably from water infected with feces used to wash the produce. Not usually as deadly as the beef E Coli, usually, but still very serious and unpleasant. And they still haven't found the source, but the germ has shown up in testing of people, same strain, in fact, exact same DNA, but they still aren't sure exactly where it came from, which makes it hard to eradicate.

I guess the same could be said for any salad you get somewhere. But "any salad" doesn't seem to be the problem - it's the Chipotle salads and other dishes.

 

[bcla]

"Welcome to Moe's!" I have been there before, lol. (Not actually a huge fan of Mexican.)

I guess the concerning part is that the produce and other "cold" foods don't have a "kill step", i.e. cooking. If germs are on the food, either from being present on the food itself, or from infection via an ill employee, the diner ingests it directly.

The E Coli they're battling (026) is not the type typically from beef (0157) - it's a different type, probably from water infected with feces used to wash the produce. Not usually as deadly as the beef E Coli, usually, but still very serious and unpleasant. And they still haven't found the source, but the germ has shown up in testing of people, same strain, in fact, exact same DNA, but they still aren't sure exactly where it came from, which makes it hard to eradicate.

I guess the same could be said for any salad you get somewhere. But "any salad" doesn't seem to be the problem - it's the Chipotle salads and other dishes.

Costco had an issue traced to their green vegetable supplier.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I don't think their track record is any worse than any other chain place, it's just that they are in the news now.

Really? Numerous outbreaks of FOUR different organisms, with dozens sickened, for one chain, in a relatively short period of time, is not very common, to my knowledge.

Just one outbreak, depending what it is, can be a huge problem for many businesses.

Something is clearly not right at Chipotle, unfortunately for them.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Costco had an issue traced to their green vegetable supplier.

Yes.

Costco has been a great company as far as food borne illness goes. Years ago they had an E Coli outbreak in their ground beef, where someone was very sickened (can't remember if that person died), and they took it upon themselves, without having to, to independently test all the ground beef they sold. Kudos to them for that. This outbreak has got to be devastating for them. ETA looks like they had another of their ground beef in 2013, also, and others from some of the other products sold there and manufactured by different companies.

 

[aprilchem]

We don't normally eat at Chipotle-type places - I can't eat rice or beans, so it makes it difficult for me to get something there to fill me up. But I do order their catering every year for our departmental spring picnic. College students LOVE Chipotle.

 

[SparklePixie]

Really? Numerous outbreaks of FOUR different organisms, with dozens sickened, for one chain, in a relatively short period of time, is not very common, to my knowledge.

Just one outbreak, depending what it is, can be a huge problem for many businesses.

Something is clearly not right at Chipotle, unfortunately for them.

Yes, their track record is awful and with the latest outbreak in Boston, getting worse. There hasn't been a fast food chain that has dealt with numerous, frequent outbreaks like this.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

We don't normally eat at Chipotle-type places - I can't eat rice or beans, so it makes it difficult for me to get something there to fill me up. But I do order their catering every year for our departmental spring picnic. College students LOVE Chipotle.

That's right. It's the go-to place for high schoolers, also.