Chipotle-Linked E. Coli Outbreaks Over, Cause Unknown: CDC

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has closed its investigation into E. coli outbreaks linked to the popular fast-food franchise Chipotle Mexican Grill.

In its final report, issued Monday, the CDC said the outbreaks appear to be over. Investigators were unable to identify a specific ingredient linked to the illnesses, according to the report.

Two E. coli outbreaks related to Chipotle sickened a total of 60 people in 14 states, including California, Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Washington, the CDC said. Twenty-two patients were hospitalized.

The first illnesses were reported last October in Washington and Oregon. The most recently reported illness occurred Dec. 1, 2015.

Chipotle has also been linked to norovirus outbreaks in Boston and Simi Valley, California.

The chain has since doubled down on its food safety measures, which executives said last month will reduce the risk of another illness outbreak to "near zero."

Chipotle undertook an aggressive revamping of food preparation methods at its more than 1,900 locations. But the outbreak drove the company's stock down by 26 percent over the past three months and it warned of a potentially sizeable hit to profits last month.

Shares are rebounding sharply in midday trading.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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