Chipotle Infection

Even after recent multistate closing of Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants, there is no fear that the e. Coli infection could strike locals in the Birmingham area.

According the the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as of Nov. 12 there have been 50 individual cases reported of illness caused by the Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O26. The cases included 33 from Washington State and 19 from Oregon, the common factor is all those infected ate at the popular Chipotle restaurant days before. Due to this restaurants in Washington and Oregon were closed to investigate the possible causes of the illnesses.

This restaurant is a very popular location for many students at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, so there has been growing concern as to whether or not it is safe to eat there. Jon Robles, general manager of the Highway 280

Although he had never had to deal with a situation of the likeness, there are policies in place to prevent illnesses from occurring. “Each state, county, city and municipalities have guidelines we have to follow in order to ensure public health.”

The recent e. Coli outbreaks steam from the food plants Chipotle gets their meats and vegetables from. Robles gave this example, “If I were to not washing my hands and go make you a burrito, you get sick, they would be able to trace that back to the particular restaurant you ate at to find the cause. But because there are so many people getting sick at the same time, it has to be something more than employees not washing their hands.”

Robles also gave this example, “If you had a friend fill up your car one day, then the next you crank it on and see that the arrow is on full. Do you ask your friend if they filled up your car?” This meaning that because there are so many precautions, regulations, and policies in place the people can know that their food is