Finance

E. Coli Up, Chipotle's Stock Price Down

As the E. coli cases linked to Chipotle increase, so do the company's stock troubles.

E. Coli Up, Chipotle's Stock Price Down
Getty Images / Joe Raedle
SMS

Chipotle's stock dropped once again. J.P. Morgan advisers downgraded its rating to neutral after the fast-casual chain's latest E. coli outbreak.

Share prices were down more than 4 percent Tuesday after five people in Oklahoma, Kansas and North Dakota with E. coli reported having recently eaten at Chipotle.

Chipotle's woes began in late October after the first 19 cases of E. coli were linked to the restaurant chain. As of mid December, 53 people in nine states have had the illness.

And another 80 people in Boston came down with a norovirus after eating at a Chipotle. Officials blame that on a sick employee.

Chipotle founder Steve Ells recently went on the "Today" show to assure customers the restaurant is enacting practices to prevent further outbreaks.

"Practices that are so far above industry norms today that this we will be the safest place to eat," Ells said.

But it wasn't enough to turn investments around. Since the outbreaks began, Chipotle's stock has slipped 18 percent to its lowest price in 19 months.

This video includes images from Getty Images.