chipotle CDC: E. coli outbreak appears to be over

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

Looks like it’s safe to bite into that burrito.

The federal agency that monitors public health says the outbreak of E. coli illness linked to Chipotle restaurants that sickened 60 people appears to be over.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday the most-recent illness reported to the agency started Dec. 1.

Although the CDC closed its investigation, the source of the illness that spread to 14 states is still unknown. Chipotle executives say they may never be able to identify what made people sick.

Denver-based Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. undertook an aggressive revamping of food-preparation methods at its more than 1,900 locations.

But the outbreak drove the company’s stock down by 26 percent over the past three months, and it warned in December of a potentially sizable hit to profits.

Its stock rallied after the CDC announcement, closing Monday up $19.67, or 4.3 percent, at $472.64.