Chipotle Closing For Food Safety Talk Feb. 8

By GREG HAMBRICK (Patch Staff)

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — We’ve got a few options for lunch in the Swampscott area. Heck, even a few options for fast Mexican. But we will likely be short one option for a short time next month, with Chipotle closing for a few hours on Feb. 8.

Chipotle’s new marketing campaign will attempt to clean up its credibility after norovirus and E. coli reports. That will include closing shop for a few hours on Feb. 8 for employees to hear more about food safety efforts, according The Wall Street Journal.

“I don’t think we’ll ever be finished,” CEO Steve Ells said of new practices, including things like centralized handling of lettuce and tomato prep. “We will always look for ways to have a more robust food safety practice.”

Faithful customers may also start seeing more free food. According to CBS News, the chain is doubling the amount of free food restaurants can give to customers.

Illnesses linked to Chipotle food have been reported in the Pacific Northwest and across the Northeast, including in Maryland, New York and New Jersey.

At least 140 people, nearly all Boston College students, fell ill with norovirus in December after eating at a Chipotle near campus.

A criminal investigation began last week regarding a norovirus outbreak at one California restaurant.

Includes reporting by Marc Torrence