683 Chipotle patrons say they became ill after eating at Ohio restaurant

[Dave Starsky]

Source: NY Daily News


Hundreds of people who dined at an Ohio Chipotle restaurant say they’ve become sick after eating food there, according to the Delaware General Health District.

At least 683 patrons at Chipotle’s Powell location reported feeling ill, however the culprit of the illness remains unknown.

Stool-sample tests for Salmonella, E.Coli, Shigella and norovirus came back negative, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

The possible food-borne illness caused customers to experience symptoms including vomiting, nausea, headaches and abdominal pain that lasted for a few days. It appears to have affected patrons who visited the Mexican eatery between July 26 and July 29.




Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-news-chipotle-illness-20180802-story.html

[hibbing]

1. I'm not a fan, but that is a lot of people

I wonder what the heck it is since the various tests came back. They sure seem to have a pattern of this type of thing happening to them.


Peace

[Dave Starsky]

3. Sure seems strange to me.

I wonder if someone has a grudge against the company.

[SpankMe]

2. I smell a little BS, here

Almost 700 people over four days? Unless someone's doing something deliberate, this is very unlikely. Or, the source of the agent isn't Chipotle. I hope they widen their net. Even if someone was screwing up at Chipotle, you'd be looking at 80 or fewer on a single day.

Something's not right, here.

[Initech]

7. It's a supply chain issue for sure.

Chipotle just happens to be at the feet of the supply chain, so somewhere in that chain is where the bad ingredients are coming from, and they're the ones who should get the blame for this.

[bucolic_frolic]

4. staph aureus

Common in small amounts. In greater concentration produces sickness, especially vomiting. By the time that's puked up, the culprit is back to normal levels.

Food poisoning in Montana toppled Old Country Buffet!

[mainer]

10. staph seems likely, since other possible culprits usually cause diarrhea too

Since it's the toxin produced by staph that causes illness, the bug itself might not show up in cultures.

[forgotmylogin]

5. My guess is sour cream...or anything stored in wells.

Haven't eaten at a Chipotle recently, but their setup is like a Subway with ingredients laid out in bins to be added to orders on demand. Also, sour cream is one of the potential additions. Taco Bell uses a sour cream "gun" like a caulking press which are sealed and they are probably so busy they go through them, but I imagine letting that thing sit unrefrigerated for too long would be a petri-dish for bacteria.

I don't remember if Chipotle uses a gun - I think sour cream is loaded in the well with the other toppings like beans and cheese. I think these pans either are usually refrigerated to keep them cool or sit over hot water to keep them warm. If one of these devices fail, practically any food sitting for over an hour in a room-temperature liquid can allow bacteria that exists in most food to reproduce and become toxic.

I read that we consume all kinds of mold and bacteria in food all the time and the body is capable of handling very small amounts; the danger is when food sits in a humid spot at the right temperature that salmonella and other bacteria flourish and form a colony where enough grows concentrated to the point where it can make a person sick. I know the Chipotles I've been to aren't constantly busy like a normal fast food place, and if they don't refresh the foodstuffs consistently or if the heater/chiller isn't working right and keeping the food at the right temperature, or...if they're letting a serving spoon sit to the side and not replacing and washing them frequently, bacteria might be collecting on the utensils.

[Mosby]

11. norovirus is usually from sick employees.

[C Moon]

6. I'm weary of those public salsa bars...

I always try to be careful to not contaminate.
But there's more than likely people with dirty hands, pouring salsa in a tiny cups, and fluid rolls off their hands back into the bowl.
Next!
I don't believe that would cause 700 people from becoming ill, unless it was intentional.

[Lulu KC]

8. I will not be surprised

to learn that there is some connection between Chipotle and Russiagate.

Have I overdosed on Twitter? Yes. Definitely.

But seriously. This has been going on since (she turns to Google) July 2015. Isn't that when the RNC was hacked?

[C Moon]

9. It certainly sounds like something underhanded is going on.

[cstanleytech]

12. I tried a Chipotle for the first time two weeks ago and frankly the food was

just not that impressive for the price so I doubt I will go there again.

[Mosby]

14. same here, tried it twice and don't see the appeal

If you have a Rubio's in your area try the chicken tacos with corn tortillas, they are addictive.

[cstanleytech]

16. Nearest is about 350 miles away and the next closest is about 380 lol

[RhodeIslandOne]

17. I prefer Moe's

Expensive, but I have never had a bad experience there.

[YOHABLO]

13. Anywhere you have food handlers you're at risk. Been in the biz for decades.

It also could be any type of food-born illness. Dairy, Meat, Lettuce, .. a number of components. It happens in the fast food industry all too often. I guess that is the risk one must take.

[Mosby]

15. chipotle consolidated their prep work to special facilities

To try to cut down on contamination. There they have workers wearing protective gear inside industrial walk in coolers cutting up chicken, lettuce etc.

Anyplace that serves a lot of food that doesn't get heated is a possible vector for food borne illnesses. Think taco bell, subway, chipotle etc.

Another major food borne illness vector in restaurants is the iced tea, if it doesn't come in a bag, don't drink it. You can tell the difference by the white tube sticking out of the dispenser, the tube indicates that the tea comes in a bag.

[JCMach1]

18. Had something bad a couple weeks back

Due to spinach salad... Watch the green stuff in summer... And yes, to add insult it was organic

[Crabby Appleton]

19. CDC has identified the pathogen

Says holding food at unsafe temperatures lead to outbreak.

POWELL, Ohio — A foodborne disease that happens when food it left at unsafe temperatures led to nearly 700 people getting sick after eating at a Powell-area Chipotle last month, according to results from the Centers for Disease Control.

Investigators identified Clostridium perfringens as the culprit in the illnesses, but weren't able to identify a specific food as the source. Health officials say 647 people reported gastrointestinal symptoms after eating at the Chipotle on Sawmill Parkway between July 26th and July 30th.
The CDC said although food samples tested negative for the bacteria, stool samples collected from people who got sick tested positive. Health officials say C. perfringens is one of the most common types of foodborne illness in the US, and the bacteria often occurs when foods are prepared in large quantities and kept warm for a long time before serving.

Link: https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/cdc-food-left-at-unsafe-temperatures-led-to-illnesses-from-powell-chipotle

[Mosby]

20. thanks for the update

This location really screwed up.

Hold Temps are food safety 101.

[Dave Starsky]

21. Thanks for that! n/t