This is probably why there is a massive coverup going on

This national fast casual chain will do anything to keep its inflated stock price at its peak.

The CEO and other executives have a big bonus headed their way if it stays at its current level.

This is probably why there is a massive coverup going on about the number of people worldwide who have got sick from the chain’s food over the past few weeks.

After all of their past troubles, the stock would crater and the bonuses would go bye bye.

Chipotle

Chipotle plans to open 200 new restaurants this year

Chipotle Mexican Grill anticipates opening 200 new restaurants in 2021, assuming minimal construction and permit delays related to COVID-19, the company said.

The company on Wednesday reported first-quarter net income of $127.1 million.

“As vaccines roll out and we get closer to moving past this pandemic, I believe Chipotle is well-positioned for growth,” said Brian Niccol, chairman and CEO, Chipotle. “I’m excited about our future as we remain focused on innovating in culinary, leading in food with integrity, and providing convenient access inside our restaurants and through our expanding digital ecosystem.”

Chipotle opened 40 new sites during the first quarter and closed five, bringing its total store count to 2,803. It is the only restaurant company of its size that owns and operates all its restaurants.

The Newport Beach, California-based company said it had profit of $4.45 per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs, came to $5.36 per share.

The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of 15 analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of $4.92 per share.

The Mexican food chain posted revenue of $1.74 billion in the period, falling short of Street forecasts. Fourteen analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $1.75 billion.- Source

Chipotle agrees to record $25 million fine over tainted food

LOS ANGELES — Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. agreed Tuesday to pay a record $25 million fine to resolve criminal charges that it served tainted food that sickened more than 1,100 people in the U.S. in outbreaks from 2015 to 2018 and sent sales plunging.

The fast food company was charged in Los Angeles federal court with two counts of violating the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by serving adulterated food that caused four outbreaks of norovirus, which causes diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal cramps, and a food poisoning incident.

The company admitted that poor safety practices, such as not keeping food at proper temperatures to prevent pathogen growth, sickened customers in Los Angeles and nearby Simi Valley, as well as Boston, Sterling, Virginia, and Powell, Ohio.

The string of outbreaks, which began in August 2015 in Simi Valley, came about two months before an E. coli outbreak at Chipotle spread to multiple states that temporarily closed dozens of restaurants and hurt sales as other food scares emerged. The criminal case was not related to E. coli.

The Newport Beach, California-based company entered into a deferred prosecution agreement that will allow it to avoid conviction by continuing to improve its food safety program, following other rules and paying the record-setting fine for a food safety case, federal prosecutors said.- Source

Chipotle Is Being Sued Again for Food Poisoning – November 13, 2020

A lawsuit against Chipotle has been filed on behalf of someone who developed a foodborne illness after eating at a location in Columbus, Ohio in September. It’s the second lawsuit against the fast-casual Mexican chain to be filed.

Lawyers from the food safety law firm Pritzker Hageman, P.A. say their client, a teenage girl, developed an E. coli O157:H7 infection after eating a salad bowl on Sept. 24. It included romaine lettuce, tomato, salsa, and guacamole. “The client suffered a painful and debilitating gastrointestinal illness and was hospitalized for several days,” according to a statement. The first lawsuit filing was announced on Oct. 31. The second was announced on Nov. 12. Chipotle has not responded to Eat This, Not That!’s request for comment.

The lawyers say they are investigating whether the romaine from Chipotle at 1140 Polaris Parkway in Columbus is responsible for their client’s illness. A recall was issued in late October after samples of the romaine sold at Walmart tested positive for E. coli. The lawsuit says this client’s illness could be associated with the Walmart romaine recall or two others recently issued. – Source