Minnesota Woman Sues Chipotle After Salmonella Illness Linked to Jalapeños
WHO:
CBS News - Kristen Behne, a Minnesota woman, is suing Chipotle.
CBS News - Ryan Osterholm is the attorney representing Behne.
Fast Company - Coast Citrus Distributors is the company that moved the jalapeños into the U.S.
Fast Company - Chipotle Mexican Grill and Qdoba are the restaurant chains involved in the outbreak.
WHAT:
CBS News - Public health officials have connected at least 110 illnesses in Minnesota and 212 nationally to the outbreak.
CBS News - Chipotle pulled the jalapeños from its restaurants in early August.
Fast Company - The CDC reported at least 345 illnesses across 27 states, including 36 hospitalizations, as of Wednesday.
Fast Company - Qdoba has also removed affected jalapeños from its supply chain.
CBS News - Behne is seeking more than $75,000 in damages in her lawsuit.
CBS News - The salmonella outbreak is linked to more than 200 illnesses.
CBS News - Genetic testing tied Behne's infection to the broader outbreak.
CBS News - The CDC reported at least 345 illnesses across 27 states, including 36 hospitalizations.
Fast Company - 93% of 191 people interviewed reported eating at a Mexican-style restaurant during the outbreak investigation.
WHERE:
CBS News - The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Minnesota.
CBS News - Behne ate at a Chipotle in Roseville, Minnesota.
Fast Company - The jalapeños were traced back to a grower in Sinaloa, Mexico.
WHEN:
CBS News - Behne ate the burrito bowl on June 24.
CBS News - Behne was hospitalized three days later and discharged on June 30.
CBS News - The Minnesota Department of Health classified Behne's case as outbreak-associated on July 1.
Fast Company - The outbreak investigation covered the period from June 14 to July 14.
WHY:
CBS News - The lawsuit argues that Chipotle should have anticipated the risk of foodborne illness.
CBS News - The outbreak is attributed to a single contaminated lot of jalapeño peppers.
HOW:
CBS News - Chipotle's Chief of Corporate Affairs and Food Safety Officer Laurie Schalow stated that the company identified jalapeños from a particular grower in Sinaloa, Mexico, and proactively removed them from the restaurants.
CBS News - Chipotle removed the contaminated jalapeños from its restaurants and replaced them with product from different growers.
Fast Company - The FDA is investigating whether any of the jalapeños went to grocery stores.
(UPDATED August 7, 2026 03:54 UTC)
Public health officials have linked at least 110 illnesses in Minnesota and 212 nationwide to a recent outbreak, with the CDC reporting a total of 345 illnesses across 27 states, including 36 hospitalizations. In response, Chipotle has pulled jalapeños from its restaurants after identifying the source as a specific grower in Sinaloa, Mexico, and Qdoba has also removed affected jalapeños from its supply chain. Chipotle's Chief of Corporate Affairs and Food Safety Officer Laurie Schalow emphasized that the company took proactive measures to ensure customer safety.
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(UPDATED August 7, 2026 00:52 UTC)
Kristen Behne, a Minnesota woman, is suing Chipotle for more than $75,000 in damages after her infection was linked to a salmonella outbreak that has affected at least 345 people across 27 states. The outbreak, traced back to a contaminated lot of jalapeño peppers from a grower in Sinaloa, Mexico, has resulted in over 200 illnesses and 36 hospitalizations, with Behne eating a burrito bowl at a Chipotle in Roseville on June 24 before being hospitalized three days later. In response to the outbreak, Chipotle has removed the contaminated jalapeños from its restaurants and replaced them with product from different growers, while the FDA is investigating whether any of the jalapeños reached grocery stores.