Current Chipotle E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak:

E. coli:  Washington and Oregon Health officials are investigating an E. coli outbreak linked to six Chipotle restaurants in Washington state and Oregon, health officials said Saturday. Three people in the Portland area and at least 19 people in Washington have become sick after eating at the Mexican food chain since October 14. In Washington, nine cases have been reported in Clark County, four in King County, five in Skagit County and one in Cowlitz County, state health officials said in a release. People have reported symptoms of infection in Clackamas and Washington counties in Oregon. 43 Chipotle restaurants have been closed in the two states.

Prior Chipotle Foodborne Illness Outbreaks:

Salmonella:  In September 2015 Minnesota Department of Health and Minnesota Department of Agriculture investigators reported an outbreak of Salmonella Newport among customers of 17 different Chipotle restaurants located primarily in the Twin Cities metro area, with one in St. Cloud and one in Rochester. Meal dates ranged from August 16 to August 28, 2015. Illness onset dates occurred between August 19 and September 3. As of September 16, 2015 there were 64 outbreak-associated cases. Nine cases were hospitalized.

Norovirus:  In August 2015 Ventura County Environmental Health and Ventura County Public Health Division staff investigated an outbreak of Norovirus among patrons of a Chipotle restaurant located in the Simi Valley Towne Center. During the week of August 18, 2015 about 80 customers and 18 restaurant employees reported symptoms. Laboratory testing of patient specimens confirmed the presence of Norovirus.

E. coli:  In September 2009, a cluster of patients who had been infected with an indistinguishable strain of E. coli O157:H7 was identified. Initially case-patients were identified in Colorado, Utah, and New York State. The Colorado case-patients had all eaten at the same Chipotle Restaurant in Boulder, Colorado, on September 4, 2009. In Utah, all case-patients had eaten at the Cafe Rio Restaurant located in Salt Lake City, Utah, between August 31 and September 4, 2009. The New York State case patient had eaten at a Chipotle Restaurant. A case control study involving Utah and Colorado case-patients was conducted; it showed that eating romaine, or iceberg, lettuce was associated with risk of illness. The New York State case-patient had eaten romaine lettuce at the Chipotle Restaurant. A traceback of the romaine lettuce led to a common harvester/shipper, Church Brothers, LLC, located in Salinas, California.

Norovirus:  In April 2008 patrons of a Chipotle Grill Restaurant near Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, developed diarrhea, nausea and vomiting due to Norovirus. Many of those affected were Kent State University students who had eaten burritos at the restaurant. Restaurant coupons had been given in exchange for donating blood resulting in large numbers exposures and illnesses.

Hepatitis A:  In March 2008 persons who dined at the restaurant, located in La Mesa, California, between March 1 and April 22, 2008, developed hepatitis A. Restaurant employees were tested for hepatitis A subsequent to the outbreak and had no evidence of recent hepatitis A infection. No source for the outbreak was definitively determined.

Marler Clark, The Food Safety Law Firm, is the nation’s leading law firm representing victims of E. coli outbreaks and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The E. coli lawyers of Marler Clark have represented thousands of victims of E. coli and other foodborne illness infections and have recovered over $600 million for clients. Marler Clark is the only law firm in the nation with a practice focused exclusively on foodborne illness litigation. Our E. coli lawyers have litigated E. coli and HUS cases stemming from outbreaks traced to ground beef, raw milk, lettuce, spinach, sprouts, and other food products. The law firm has brought E. coli lawsuits against such companies as Jack in the Box, Dole, ConAgra, Cargill, and Jimmy John’s. We have proudly represented such victims as Brianne Kiner, Stephanie Smith and Linda Rivera.

If you or a family member became ill with an E. coli infection or HUS after consuming food and you’re interested in pursuing a legal claim, contact the Marler Clark E. coli attorneys for a free case evaluation.