Chipotle’s food safety woes

Conspiracy theorists cannot believe that Chipotle’s ongoing food safety problems—and its consequent legal woes—can be due to anything other than deliberate sabotage.  Much as I love conspiracy theories—and my favorite is to blame the Center for Consumer Freedom—I suspect the problems are related more to supply-chain issues and the need to establish a stronger internal culture of food safety.  This means getting every employee to follow food safety rules to the letter—but also in spirit.

The company has done the right thing by recruiting help from a top food-safety consulting firm.

In the meantime, here’s what’s happening to its stock prices.

Additions:

• Bill Marler suggests that Chipotle’s owners are in need of expert legal advice to defend themselves against criminal charges resulting from the food safety incidents.
• Chipotle launches a new $50 million ad campaign to regain customers.