More E. coli cases plague Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc.

This year, 198 people have been sickened in connection with eating Chipotle, either from E. coli or norovirus. The FDA said on Tuesday the evidence available suggests that a common meal item or ingredient served at Chipotle's restaurants in several states is a likely source of both the outbreaks. "Chipotle is working with the CDC, FDA, and state health officials to investigate".

A total of 53 cases have now been reported, the majority of them related to the October 2015 outbreak in the Pacific Northwest that resulted in dozens of locations being temporarily closed. For this round of fun, the outbreak is located in North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Kansas.

Nineteen people were infected from the outbreak in seven states, mostly in the West. Five people were hospitalized, including two with hemolytic uremic syndrome, but no deaths were reported. Spokesman Chris Arnold said in an email Monday that the chain is in the process of implementing its new programs, which include increased testing of ingredients and food safety training for workers.

Another reported case in Pennsylvania involves a person who did not report eating at a Chipotle in the week leading up to Nov. 14, when the illness started.

GIVEN PAUSE: JPMorgan analyst John Ivankoe downgraded Chipotle to Neutral and cut his price target for shares to $555 from $630 after the CDC's update. Chipotle co-CEO Steve Ells has told The Associated Press he doesn't think the company will ever know for sure the exact ingredient that was responsible, but that he believes it was bacteria in fresh food like tomatoes or cilantro. As the illness and hospitalization toll rises, Chipotle's stock continues to fall, as do burrito fans' faith in the popular fast casual chain.

We'd note, however, that the CDC added, "Because it is not known if these infections are related to the larger, previously reported outbreak of STEC O26 infections, these illnesses are not being included in the case count for that outbreak". Earlier in trading, the stock hit a 52-week low of $508.10.

 

Its shares were down $19.07, or 3.5 percent, at $522.01 at the close.

• Bajirao Mastani might get banned in Pakistan

• Nicolas Cage Agrees to Return Stolen Dinosaur Skull to Mongolian Government

• Priyanka Chopra Who Plays 'Kashibai' in 'Bajirao Mastani' Has Not Seen the Movie Yet!