ATLANTA -- The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) has declared the two E.coli outbreaks tied to the Chipotle fast-casual restaurant chain to be over, though the source of the contamination has not been identified and likely never will be.
The CDC tweeted: "Chipotle E. coli outbreak investigation closed. Investigation unable to ID contaminated food."
In the initial, larger outbreak, 55 people infected with the outbreak strain of STEC O26 were reported from 11 states; 21 ill people were hospitalized. In the second, smaller outbreak, five people infected with a different strain of STEC O26 were reported from three states; one ill person was hospitalized.
There were no deaths in either outbreak.
Samples tested from ill people in the second outbreak were not related genetically to samples from ill people in the first outbreak, the CDC said
"The epidemiologic evidence collected during this investigation suggested that a common meal item or ingredient served at Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants was a likely source of both outbreaks. The investigation did not identify a specific food or ingredient linked to illness," it said. "Most ill people in these outbreaks ate many of the same food items at a Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurant. When a restaurant serves foods with several ingredients that are mixed or cooked together and then used in multiple menu items, it can be more difficult for epidemiologic studies to identity the specific ingredient that is contaminated."
It continued, "A review of Chipotle's distribution records by state and federal regulatory officials was unable to identify a single food item or ingredient that could explain either outbreak."
The conclusion of the agency’s investigation is a positive development for Chipotle, whose sales have been in a free fall since the October and November food-poisoning incidents. A survey conducted by Bank of America Merrill Lynch revealed that a high proportion of the consumers who stopped visiting the chain would start eating there again if no further food-safety problems were reported.
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