2008 Woodie Awards
Kent Health Department investigates Chipotle after food sickness
Kiera Manion-Fischer
Issue date: 4/18/08 Section: News
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Chipotle closed voluntarily this afternoon to sanitize its facilities after a Kent Health Department investigation.
"Chipotle restaurant seems to be the common factor in the outbreak," said John Ferlito, health commissioner for the Kent Health Department, at a press conference this afternoon.
The department's investigation found that Chipotle had not violated any food laws.
People were treated either at the DeWeese Health Center or Robinson Memorial Hospital.
Students experienced symptoms in varying degrees. Most cleared up after 24 hours, Ferlito said.
Chipotle spokesman Chris Arnold said in an e-mail that the restaurant met or exceeded health department requirements and will continue to help the health department with its investigation.
The Health Department sent food samples and stool samples to the Ohio Health Department to be tested to determine the exact cause and type of the illness.
The results will probably be completed by the end of next week.
Kelly Engelhart, director of Nursing for the Portage County Health department said the exact cause may never be known.
The DeWeese Health Center will open at 10 a.m. tomorrow to accommodate students. It is not usually open on weekends.
Contact safety reporter Kiera Manion-Fischer at kmanion@kent.edu.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 35
Chris
posted 4/18/08 @ 3:39 PM EST
Actually, Chipotle is telling people that come to the door the grill is broken.
Mark Rubin
posted 4/18/08 @ 3:39 PM EST
I can't understand why the name of the restaurant is being withheld. A Flashline message was sent out to tell people what to do if they think that they're suffering from the mysterious food-borne illness. (Continued…)
Robin Anderson
posted 4/18/08 @ 4:05 PM EST
Hmmm...if the Kent Health Department has stated that "There is no confirmed connection between the restaurant and the outbreak of food-borne illness." I wonder just where the heck Mr. (Continued…)
Former Chipotle employee
posted 4/18/08 @ 8:09 PM EST
Well I am not surprised. I worked there as a grill cook for quite some time and I was always worried about the possibility of food borne illness. The problem is the amount of meats that are all cooked at one time and then chopped on the same cutting board and then mixed together in a pan for the line. (Continued…)
Brian
posted 4/18/08 @ 8:45 PM EST
I ate there yesterday and I feel fine.
Joel
posted 4/18/08 @ 8:48 PM EST
I guess the facebook group "Chipotle Runs Right Through Me" has some increased membership at the moment.
I'll still eat there.
Dry Heeves and Bile Suck
posted 4/19/08 @ 1:09 PM EST
Are any of the people who got sick thinking of taking legal action? I want them to pay for my ER bill.
3000 calories
posted 4/19/08 @ 4:10 PM EST
As if it's taken this for some people to question eating this food-where one burrito accounts for well-over a day's worth of calories. And since when, "Dry Heeves" did nausea and vomiting require a trip to the hospital?
You chose to eat fast food, and you chose to go to the hospital-you chose the consequences. (Continued…)
Important Univ. Person
posted 4/19/08 @ 8:45 PM EST
Students who are violently ill due to the Chipotle Genocide should be exempt from last 2 weeks of class, maybe finals. This not a on-campus restaurant, but it is a university-sponsored restuarant, hundreds of students eat there in any given day. (Continued…)
At Your Service, Training
posted 4/20/08 @ 10:40 AM EST
Maybe people will now take food safety more seriously. My company, At Your Service Training, is holding a food safety certification class in Kent on June 17th and 24th. (Continued…)
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