FOLLOWUP: Chipotle reopening Washington, Oregon restaurants

| Health | West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants

Just went through The Junction and the closed (“FYI”) sign is off the door at Chipotle Mexican Grill in The Junction, one day after the chain said it was reopening its 43 Washington and Oregon restaurants. The chain voluntarily closed them after a rash of E. coli illnesses; most, including the two-month-old Chipotle here, were closed for 11 full days, going back to Halloween. The 30 people who got sick in this state reported eating at five Chipotles, including two in Seattle, but the West Seattle store was not among them. So far, tests still haven’t traced where the bacteria came from. Here’s all the state info about the outbreak; here’s all the info from Chipotle.

Mr E November 11, 2015 (1:45 pm)

So far, tests still haven’t traced where the bacteria came from.

Then why would anyone dare to return and risk their health if Chipotle is unable to determine what foods caused the spread of E. Coli?

AJP November 11, 2015 (2:10 pm)

I’d say now is the best time to eat at Chipotle. All the suppliers are going to be hyper-vigilant for fear of losing their contracts.

Community Member November 11, 2015 (3:04 pm)

Have the employees been paid while the stores were closed? Will the chain be hiring?
.

Mr. E. – they tested everything. Do you realistically expect them to go back in time and test the cilantro from mid-October? All anyone can do now is make sure that the current and future cilantro and everything else is produced with best practices, and that shipping and delivery procedures are inspected, and set up ongoing testing.

Ray November 11, 2015 (3:30 pm)

You do realize it is BOTH Chipotle AND the federal government that have been testing various locations and ingredients, trying to find out what was contaminated.

And NEITHER party has been able to identify it.

Chris S November 11, 2015 (3:47 pm)

I would worry more about other chain restaurants that HAVEN’T had a food poisoning scare. I bet Chipotle is one of the safest places around to eat right now.

D November 11, 2015 (3:53 pm)

Couldn’t pay me to eat there.

cj November 11, 2015 (4:25 pm)

I love Chipotle, but the one that opened here was pretty flavorless by comparison to my past memories. I don’t get what has happened to them but I hope they get better.

Paul November 11, 2015 (4:50 pm)

I love Chipotle but can’t bring myself to eat there at the present time. Too risky. Hopefully they promptly find the source of the E.Coli.

Love Burrito Bowls November 11, 2015 (7:52 pm)

I will go back, this kind of thing can happen at any restaurant. In fact it can happen in your own kitchen. The fruits and veggie we buy in store’s or farmer’s markets have been handled and touched my many people and unless you clean them very very well you could get E.Coli in your own home.

Community Member November 11, 2015 (8:41 pm)

@ Love Burrito Bowls, in some past outbreaks of E Coli in vegetables, it has been hypothesized that the E Coli contamination may have happened while the plants were growing, and the bacteria was actually inside the vegetables. If that was the case, cooking the vegetables could kill the bacteria, but careful cleaning wouldn’t help. The contamination wouldn’t come from the many people who handle the produce, but just from some wild animal, such as a deer, wandering through the garden.

jetcitydude November 11, 2015 (9:00 pm)

Two tacos with extra guacamole and a side of E.coli please…

Blinkyjoe November 11, 2015 (9:28 pm)

Safest time to fly is in the weeks after a plane crash. The chances of getting sick eating out are infinitesimally low. Much higher in your own kitchen. I applaud Chipotle for their response and recovery plan. Ate there today and will still be a loyal customer.

KP November 12, 2015 (3:34 pm)

I am nervous to go back to Chipotle even though I know the food quality is exactly the same as it was before. That chances of getting sick are the same elsewhere. First time I went in to the store the food and service were fantastic. Second time was absolute meh. I’ll try again here in a few weeks.

Sorry, comment time is over.