Students React to Chipotle E. coli Scare

The+Chipotle+at+Legacy+Village+is+a+favorite+lunch+spot+for+BHS+students.+Photo+by+Sydney+Eisenberg.

The Chipotle at Legacy Village is a favorite lunch spot for BHS students. Photo by Sydney Eisenberg.

Three Chipotle Mexican Grill locations in Ohio were linked to a recent E. coli outbreak, including the Legacy Village location, which is frequented by Beachwood students.

Freshman Johnny Marks has changed his outlook on the restaurant chain since hearing about the outbreak.

“I went to Chipotle often last spring after baseball practice,” he said. “I don’t want to go anymore because of the E. coli outbreak.”

Chipotle has said they have taken numerous measures to enhance their food safety. According to Chipotle’s Dec. 10 Food Safety Update, the chain has conducted “deep cleaning” in all restaurants worldwide, and has replaced all ingredients while the restaurants were closed.

Senior Cameron Krantz, a regular Chipotle customer, has faith that the extra cleaning measures are enough to prevent future illness.

“The E. coli hasn’t affected how much I eat at Chipotle,” he said. “I think I’ve had it twice since November,” he said.

Many are wondering what specifically caused the outbreak. Due to the immense amounts of produce they serve in their restaurants daily, Chipotle has not been able to determine the source, according to their most recent press release. However, they are assuring customers that Chipotle is safe to eat, and any ingredient that could have potentially been linked to the e coli incident is out of the supply chain.

Many students, including junior Cameron Umbleby, are anticipating the opening of the new location at ETON Chagrin Boulevard in Woodmere.

“I haven’t eaten at the Legacy Chipotle since I heard about the E. coli,” she said. “But, I plan on going to the new one when it opens [at] ETON.”

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story inaccurately stated that three Ohio locations closed due to the outbreak.