Chipotle Receives Follow-up Subpoena on Norovirus Outbreak

In an SEC filing, burrito chain Chipotle revealed that it has received a subpoena on July 19th relating to the norovirus outbreak at a Sterling, Virginia restaurant in early July.

Several people had been sick with nororvirus after eating at the restaurant and testing confirmed the illness.
According to management, the outbreak was connected to a sick worker at the restaurant and not following enforcement properly when it came to the company’s sick policy.

“We conducted a thorough investigation, and it revealed that our leadership there didn’t strictly adhere to our company protocols,” CEO Steve Ells said during the company’s earnings conference call.

Ells said that Chipotle’s procedures are “nonnegotiable and a condition of their employment.” The company intends to have a training program that enforces Chipotle’s policies more strictly in regards to how workers should handle food at the restaurants.

“It is not possible at this time to determine whether we will incur, or to reasonably estimate the amount of, any fines or penalties in connection with the investigation,” the company said.

Chipotle has said it plans to “fully cooperate in the investigation.”

Disclaimer: We have no position in Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG) and have not been compensated for this article.