"Once a fast-casual burrito chain whose name is widely recognized, the restaurant has been plagued by repeated foodborne illness incidents over several years, most recently when nearly 700 people in Ohio were sickened by Clostridium perfringens linked to food held at unsafe temperatures. Earlier crises in 2015–2016 affected multiple states, sickened dozens (including at least 20 hospitalizations), prompted federal criminal probes and multiple lawsuits, and a 2017 norovirus outbreak at a Sterling, Virginia location sickened 13 more. In response the company has implemented measures such as paid sick leave, free-burrito offers, revised food-handling procedures, a stated zero-tolerance policy on working while ill, and now a nationwide retraining of employees plus recurring employee knowledge assessments announced by CEO Brian Niccol. Meanwhile the chain is testing new menu items like Mexican chocolate milkshakes, quesadillas and bacon as it attempts to repair its reputation and regain customer trust." - Brenna Houck