News

Chipotle stock plummets on news of Virginia norovirus outbreak

July 19, 2017

One of the worst things that could occur to any restaurant, but especially the food poisoning-plagued Chipotle chain, has happened at a Sterling, Virginia, Chipotle store. The company has confirmed that numerous customers apparently have developed symptoms of norovirus, which can be spread by infected employees.

The news had an immediate ill effect on the company's share price on the New York Stock Exchange. Chipotle stock plunged nearly 7 percent from $390.11 at the opening bell Tuesday to $366.40 shortly before noon.

The cases, originally reported on the website, iwaspoisoned.com, include 13 customers and possibly a hospitalization due to vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration and pain. All of the customers were part of a group that visited the chain Friday night. 

"We are aware of a small number of reported illnesses isolated to a single restaurant in Sterling, Virginia, on Tripleseven Road, and have notified local health department officials," Chipotle Executive Director of Food Safety Jim Marsden said in an email to the editor of this site. "We are working with health authorities to understand what the cause may be and to resolve the situation as quickly as possible. The reported symptoms are consistent with norovirus.

"Norovirus does not come from our food supply, and it is safe to eat at Chipotle. We plan to reopen the restaurant today. We take every report of illness seriously. In accordance with our established protocols, our team is working to ensure the safety of our customers and employees, including voluntarily closing the restaurant yesterday to conduct a complete sanitization."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, norovirus is a "highly contagious virus" and "can spread quickly in closed places like daycare centers, nursing homes, schools, and cruise ships."

Norovirus can also be spread through food if, for instance, a restaurant employee does not wash after using the toilet, which was the case two years ago at a Chipotle near Boston College when 120 students contracted the illness after visiting that location.