Chipotle to pay expenses for those who got sick

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by Matt Fredmonsky

Record-Courier Reporter

Kent -- The Chipotle restaurant chain's corporate office in Denver has agreed to pay the treatment costs of those people who became ill with what is suspected to be an acute form of gastroenteritis after eating at the Kent location recently.

In a statement issued April 22, Monty Moran, president and COO of Chipotle, said the company has established a claims program and process for the reimbursement of medical expenses related to a suspected norovirus outbreak, which has caused more than 400 people to fall ill in connection with eating at the restaurant.

"Investigators have informed us that they believe that the illness was caused by a norovirus, not by anything in our food, equipment or our food supply," Moran said.

"We plan to assist people who believe their illness was caused by a visit to our restaurant with reimbursement of related health care expenses. Food safety is, and always has been, our highest priority."

The last official tally released by local health officials April 21 reported 428 total cases of illness involving nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

The symptoms and incubation period are similar to that of the norovirus, which causes acute gastroenteritis, but officials are hopeful to determine the exact cause within the next couple of days.

ACCORDING to the statement issued by Chipotle officials, the suspected norovirus incident was contained to the Kent eatery.

Customers who ate at the restaurant between April 15 and 18 and who sought medical attention for symptoms consistent with norovirus can call Chipotle claims at 1-888-366-2150.

Chris Arnold, a company spokesman, said in a phone interview the company decided to reimburse those people who became sick because it is the right thing to do.

"We take this stuff very, very seriously," Arnold said. "The satiate well-being of our customers and employees is and always has been our highest priority."

The store closed voluntarily for about 24 hours April 18 to conduct a complete sanitation of the building's surfaces.

The store had been inspected as recently as the morning of April 18 and last month, and during both visits inspectors found no violation of food service regulations.

Health officials conducted a symptom survey of the entire store's staff and none of the employees present during the outbreak will be allowed to return to work until they have obtained medical clearance, Arnold said.

The company will screen receipts and credit card charges from the period in which people first began reporting sick until the restaurant closed to eliminate people with illegitimate claims against the chain.

Moran said the company continues to work with city, county and state health officials to determine the exact cause of the illness.

E-mail:

mfredmonsky@recordpub.com

Telephone: 330-296-9657