If you’re hankering for a burrito in Malibu on Feb. 8, beware that our local Chipotle will be closed for lunch. The national food chain will shut down all 1,900 locations for a mandatory all-employee meeting and training session in an attempt to stop any further food poisoning incidents.
As The Malibu Times reported last week, Chipotle business plummeted when states connected foodborne illnesses to the popular food chain. The United States Department of Justice is also investigating the chain’s food handling. Chipotle restaurants are currently taking extreme measures to ensure food safety, including closely monitoring the harvest and handling of fresh vegetables, using more centralized kitchens and even parboiling some ingredients.
The company plans to thank its employees, let them ask questions and go over food handling procedures during the Feb. 8 closure. Most Chipotle restaurants, including the Malibu location, should reopen by 3 p.m. that day.