Chipotle pulls jalapenos connected to salmonella outbreak
The restaurant chain has removed all jalapenos that were linked to a Mexican based distributor, Coast Citrus Distributors. The FDA says there is no longer a risk to eat at Chipotle after the franchise calls on a new grower for their jalapeno peppers.
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There’s another warning about foodborne illness being sent out across the country. The CDC has linked several salmonella outbreaks to a handful of foods including jalapenos.
Salmonella outbreaks in 27 states, are being tied to jalapeno peppers, eggs, and chickens. The CDC says that many of those cases where people fell ill, were linked to Chipotle and their jalapenos which were traced back to a Mexican company called, Coast Citrus Distributors.
In response, Chipotle has removed all jalapenos and replaced them with those from a different grower. In turn, the FDA is saying, because of that change in grower there is no longer a risk to eat at the restaurant.
However, these food outbreaks can have a lasting impact on businesses who can be boycotted by loyal customers or attract a class action lawsuit by those who get sick.
Parag Amin is business analyst and lawyer who is watching the impact of these food outbreaks.
“The consumer is going to remember that I bought this food from this place and I got sick. These restaurants spend years and years building a restaurants reputation and building trust with a consumer that can get destroyed essentially overnight," said Amin.
The CDC is reporting 345 cases of salmonella which can cause diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps within 8 to 72 hours.
The FDA is trying to figure out if any of the recalled jalapenos were sent off to grocery stores.
