More than 60 people were reported sick after eating at a Chipotle Restaurant in California according to NBC. Ventura County health officials say at least 60 were reported sick after eating at a Chipotle restaurant in Simi Valley last week. It's still not clear what caused the outbreak. Test results are still pending since Monday.
"We were throwing up, going to the bathroom. We had really bad chills", according to an interview by NBC with one of the customers, Cindy Vazquez. One of the restaurant's patrons, Kam Zreik said he was given an IV because of dehydration due to diarrhea and vomiting. His aunt who works at the ER also mentioned that 19 more went to the hospital because of food poisoning.
Myke Byrne of Ventura County Environment Health Division told the Ventura County Star that among who were reported sick, 17 of them are employees of the said food chain. The store was shut down on Friday. They disposed all food items, sanitized the facility and brought in new food before reopening on Saturday. The Ventura County health department then performed an inspection on Monday.
In a statement to NBC, the company said:
"The safety and well being of our customers is always our highest priority. When we were contacted by customers who reported feeling poorly after visiting our restaurant in Simi Valley, we notified health department officials, immediately began a review of the incident, and have taken all of the necessary steps to ensure that it is safe to eat there."
Inspectors and specialists are now doing follow-ups with people who had symptoms and are doing more tests to determine the cause. Officials are trying to determine if the illness came from a specific food problem and it there are changes that need to be made to keep food safe.
NBC4 reviewed the health inspection report by the Environmental Health Division and the following violations were found:
- The premises and/or floors, walls, or ceiling are in an unsanitary condition.
- Equipment or utensils are not clean, fully operative and in good repair.
- Flying insects observed within the food facility.
- Food handlers employed at this facility do not possess a valid food handler card and/or records documenting that food employees possess a valid food handler card are not maintained by the food facility for review as required.
- The restroom is unclean or in disrepair.
It was also found out that the restaurant has repeated violations since January of this year however despite the findings, the Division released a clearance stating that there were no major violations cited.
