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Nation's Restaurant News
Timeline: Tracking Chipotle's food safety crisis
Jan 23, 2016

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Steve Dykes/Getty Images

Chipotle Mexican Grill has faced a food safety crisis, with multiple foodborne illness outbreaks at a number of its restaurants in recent months. Take a look at key moments during the crisis and the fallout from it.

September 2015
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Chipotle restaurants in Minnesota experienced a salmonella outbreak on Sept. 11, with 45 cases eventually traced to tomatoes.

October 2015
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Chipotle temporarily closed 43 restaurants on Oct. 31, in Washington and Oregon, after an E. coli outbreak.

November 2015
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

In a news analysis on Nov. 4, NRN West Coast Bureau Chief Lisa Jennings wrote that Chipotle's E. coli outbreak was the latest event in a tough year for the chain, as the industry leader grappled with lawsuits, supply challenges, brand attacks and slowing sales.

November 2015
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

On Nov. 10, Chipotle said it would reopen restaurants in the Pacific Northwest that closed after an E. coli outbreak, noting that units were sanitized and food replaced.

November 2015
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

On Nov. 20, Chipotle said an E. coli outbreak included three new states.

December 2015
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

On Dec. 4, Chipotle outlined robust food-safety measures as the illness count tied to an E. coli outbreak at the chain rose and included three more states.

December 2015
David Sundberg

Also on Dec. 4, Chipotle said it expected negative fourth-quarter same-store sales, with an uncertain outlook for 2016 after ongoing E. coli reports.

December 2015
Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc.

On Dec. 7, experts expressed mixed opinions on Chipotle’s plans to test produce as part of a strategy to avoid foodborne illness outbreaks.

December 2015
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On Dec. 8, Chipotle closed a restaurant in Boston after illnesses were suspected in a norovirus outbreak unrelated to the chain's E. coli outbreak.

December 2015
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Speaking to Wall Street analysts, Chipotle co-CEO Steve Ells outlined a plan on Dec. 8 for making the chain “the safest place to eat,” and a leader in food safety.

December 2015
Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc.

On Dec. 10, Chipotle co-CEO Steve Ells appeared on "The Today Show" to apologize for the foodborne illness outbreaks. Experts said they were unimpressed with Chipotle's crisis management following the incidents.

December 2015
Erik Sumption/Sipa Press

On Dec. 17, a survey by YouGov Brand Index found that Chipotle’s reputation continued to suffer after an E. coli outbreak at the chain. Consumer perception fell even after a televised apology from founder and co-CEO Steve Ells, according to the survey.

December 2015
James Gathany

On Dec. 21, Chipotle faced a CDC investigation into a new E. coli outbreak, with illnesses reported in Oklahoma, Kansas and North Dakota.

December 2015
David Sundberg

On Dec. 22, analysts said Chipotle's food-safety crisis would likely take a greater toll on same-store sales.

December 2015

On Dec. 23, Chipotle outlined new cooking methods in an effort to prevent future foodborne illness outbreaks.

January 2016

On Jan. 6, a federal court in California served Chipotle with a grand jury subpoena as part of a criminal investigation linked to a norovirus outbreak at a restaurant in Simi Valley, Calif., in August. Company officials updated guidance, saying same-store sales were expected to fall 14.6 percent for the fourth quarter, including a 30-percent dive in December.

January 2016
David Sundberg

On Jan. 8, Chipotle was sued over allegedly misleading shareholders with food safety statements.

January 2016
Gina LeVay

On Jan. 13, Chipotle co-CEO Steve Ells said he was "extremely confident" that the chain's food-safety crisis was over. The company plans a marketing push in February to bring customers back to its restaurants.

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