DENVER – Chipotle Mexican Grill closed its doors on Feb. 8 for a nationwide meeting for its restaurant employees focusing on food safety, after several outbreaks of foodborne illnesses were linked to the chain.
Chipotle, whose sales and stock has been hammered by outbreaks of E. Coli and Norovirus linked to its chain, said in a tweet on Monday it would be live tweeting the meeting to discuss recent and future food safety plans.
The company held the meeting at 11 a.m. ET and kept their restaurants closed until 3 p.m. ET.
On Feb. 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it had concluded its investigation of two E. coli outbreaks linked to Chipotle that sickened dozens in October and November. In the midst of those outbreaks, more than 120 Boston College students fell ill with norovirus after eating at a nearby Chipotle restaurant.
National attention surrounding the incidents led to declining sales including last week, when the chain reported its first decrease in quarterly same-store sales as a public company.
However, there is some good news for tech-savvy Chipotle fans who feel the storm has passed.
The restaurant chain plans to send a coupon for a free burrito to customers who text “raincheck” to 888-222.
