Chipotle pulled jalapenos from its restaurants on Tuesday amid a Chipotle salmonella investigation in Minnesota that has reached 110 cases. The company replaced the peppers with product from another grower while state and federal investigators continued a traceback review.
Minnesota Department of Health
The Minnesota Department of Health identified 110 cases linked to the outbreak. Of 84 Minnesotans interviewed, 75 reported eating at Chipotle between June 14 and July 14, with most of them eating there between June 24 and July 2.
Carlota Medus, a senior epidemiologist supervisor with the Minnesota Department of Health, said, “We do expect the case count to increase even if the illnesses occurred a couple of weeks ago, since it takes us a while to detect cases in surveillance.”
FDA Traceback Review
The Food and Drug Administration initiated a traceback investigation on July 22 and said it involved “multiple ingredients.” The FDA also said Chipotle began reviewing its supply chain in coordination with state partners.
Chipotle said, “Out of an abundance of caution, we proactively removed the jalapenos from our restaurants and replaced them with product from different growers.” It also said, “The Minnesota Department of Health has confirmed it has no ongoing concerns with Chipotle. We are cooperating with public health authorities in their efforts.”
Carlota Medus
Medus said the department was not concerned about Chipotle, but added that the outbreak could still be ongoing if the contaminated food item is being served elsewhere. That leaves the contamination source unresolved for now, even as the restaurant chain has already changed ingredients in its stores.
For customers who ate at Chipotle during the June 14 to July 14 window, the practical issue is the same one investigators are pursuing: whether the jalapenos were the only affected ingredient or part of a wider supply problem. The unanswered question is which grower supplied the contaminated peppers.
