Chipotle Re-opens 43 Stores After E. Coli Outbreak

A total of 42 people, 15 in Oregon and 27 in Washington, tested positive for E. coli infection last month. Most complainants claimed to have eaten at Chipotle Mexican Grill prior to feeling the symptoms of the infection.

Chipotle responded by voluntarily shutting down all 43 of their restaurants in the Pacific Northwest markets out of caution. A series of sterilizations and tests were done, as well as a replacement of all ingredients at the sites, the New York Times reported.

"The safety of our customers and integrity of our food supply has always been our highest priority," Chipotle chairman Steve Ells stated. "If there are any opportunities for us to do better in any facet of our sourcing or food handling - from the farms to our restaurants - we will find them.

"We are sorry to those affected by this situation, and it is our greatest priority to ensure that we go above and beyond to make certain that we find any opportunity to do better in any area of food safety."

After initially linking the incidents to the restaurant chain, health experts have concluded that there is no risk of infection from eating at Chipotle.

Chipotle announced that it will reopen the 43 locations in the coming days. The popular chain additionally said that it will perform thorough sanitary procedures in all of its stores nationwide, according to a report by ABC News.

However, Chipotle is not entirely in the clear yet. Tests will continue since health offices intends to be absolutely sure where the infection originated and whether or not it came from Chipotle. The restaurant itself believes that a meal served in late October might have sparked the outbreak.

"Food outbreak investigations do not always identify a specific food source" the Washington Health Department said. "A common reason for this is that the contaminated food source was consumed before the food samples were collected."

Reiterating that current testing methods are not a hundred percent reliable, Dr. William Schaffner, an expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center said, "A lot of foodborne outbreaks are due to low-level contamination of product. The testing... and cultures come back negative and [there] could still be low-level contamination." Schaffner continued, citing that even at low levels, harmful bacteria can still seriously sicken a host.

According to the CDC, E.coli (Escherichia coli) is a bacteria normally found in the gut of animals and humans. It is present in fecal matter and is contracted by ingesting contaminated food or fluids. Vomiting and bloody stool are the most common symptoms.

A person suffering from the infection must remain hydrated as the body would constantly expel fluids. The body can normally fight off the infection, but it can be fatal in extreme cases.

The most common means that a person can get infected these days is when one consumes something prepared by someone who did not wash properly after using the bathroom.

The New York Times also reported that the strain found in the Chipotle cases is the most common culprit in E.coli-related outbreaks.

Proper personal hygiene and having a discerning taste in choosing where to eat out are the best means of preventing infection.