Chipotle has a 'clean' menu - but many customers are still terrified of E. coli
On Tuesday, Chipotle announced it had become the only national restaurant brand with no added colors, flavors, or preservatives of any kind on its food menu.
On social media, customers' responses to the news were mixed. Many expressed skepticism stemming from the E. coli scandal that rocked the chain in 2015.
Some customers took offense specifically to CEO Steve Ells' criticism of McDonald's "clean" McNuggets. Ells told Business Insider that McDonald's nuggets could not be considered clean until the company stopped using synthetically-manufactured "natural flavors."
Others said E. coli was still a reason to avoid the chain, despite Chipotle's efforts to assauge customers' food safety concerns.
Chipotle made major investments in food safety following two E. coli outbreaks in late 2015 that affected its restaurants in 14 states. The company retrained all employees, changed certain food preparation methods, and increased the number of restaurant inspections locations undergo, among other changes.
According to Chipotle, the company's internal research has shown that the brand is at or near pre-crisis levels on essentially all of the metrics in its brand health index.
"We've always done things that were hard to do, but that were the right thing to do. This is another step in that direction," Mark Crumpacker, Chipotle's chief marketing officer, told Business Insider on the chain's updated, clean menu. "The food safety crisis of last year interrupted that story and replaced a lot of [discussion] about our brand with that story. It's really important to get back on the track."
While some customers may remain unconvinced, there are signs of change, even amongst the harsh critics of Twitter. It seems that some former customers are once again returning the the chain - albeit skeptically.
woah woah woah mr e.coli i wouldn't go there if i were you https://t.co/jM8AUldFp3
- pelin (@meat_and_rice) March 28, 2017
@AshleyLutz @businessinsider I wonder if E. coli is "clean"
- John (@GuestUser123) March 28, 2017
McDonald's don't have real E. Coli either. Tell that man to simmer down. https://t.co/AmizkDnkp3
- Young Geriatric (@FriendlyNerd) March 28, 2017
Does that include their E.Coli special? Chipotle bashes American Ag then makes hundreds sick w their "natural & sustainable" food sources! https://t.co/ZOHDMaZHPk
- Brad Hilty (@BradHilty) March 26, 2017
This is the first thing that popped up when I open twitter and I will not tolerate Qdoba slander. Chipotle literally had an E. Coli outbreak https://t.co/ZbufXA0f7Q
- Sam Mebane (@samebane) March 21, 2017
it's been about a year & a half since I've eaten at chipotle b/c of the e.coli thing, but I'm gonna give it a shot today. pray for me.
- Graep Aep (@mtraeg) March 22, 2017
My first time eating chipotle since that e.coli out break
- K. (@Slim_Rean) March 21, 2017
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