Cluster of E. coli cases in Washington and Oregon

An outbreak of E. coli cases in Washington and Oregon has led to the voluntary closure of Chipotle restaurants. While the source of the contamination is still under investigation, the outbreak may be linked to the popular restaurant chain.

Consult your healthcare provider if you ate at a Chipotle restaurant between October 15 and 31 and have symptoms that may include bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, and vomiting. In some cases, E. coli can be severe and life-threatening. Young children and the elderly are at higher risk to become severely ill from E. coli infection.

General food safety guidance:
Using safe food handling techniques can reduce the risk of foodborne illness. Be sure to have a clean space for handling food, wash hands thoroughly before and during food handling, and wash produce well. Keep raw meats separate from other foods. Always cook food to the safe minimum cooking temperatures and refrigerate or chill foods right away.  Check out these food safety videos that show how to clean, separate, cook, and chill properly.