Company Overview
About Chipotle
Chipotle Mexican Grill is a fast-casual chain known for its burritos, bowls, tacos, and salads. Between 2015 and 2018, it became one of the most prominent food safety cases in the restaurant industry after a string of outbreaks sickened customers around the country.
A Pattern of Outbreaks
Federal prosecutors linked Chipotle to at least five foodborne illness outbreaks between 2015 and 2018, in the Los Angeles area, Boston, Virginia, and Ohio. Together they sickened more than 1,100 people and involved E. coli, Norovirus, and Salmonella. The 2015 E. coli O26 outbreak alone infected dozens of people across multiple states and drew national attention to the company’s food handling.
A Record $25 Million Fine
In 2020, Chipotle agreed to pay a $25 million federal fine, the largest ever imposed in a food safety case, and entered a deferred prosecution agreement. In it, the company acknowledged the outbreaks and agreed to overhaul its food safety program, including its audits, staffing, and employee training.
Your Legal Options
If you were sickened after eating at Chipotle, a claim may seek medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages allowed by law. A lab-confirmed diagnosis and proof that you ate at the restaurant help establish the foundation of a claim. Read our E. coli lawyer guide or request a free consultation to have the evidence reviewed.
