Chipotle stores across the country have reopened after the Mexican restaurant closed temporarily for a food safety meeting Monday.
Previous story: Chipotle closes restaurants during lunch for food safety meeting
The closures came after several outbreaks of food poisoning last year, including one in Shawnee, Kansas.
Previous story: Chipotle linked to E. coli case in Johnson County
Chipotle executives announced Monday what they believe were the source of the outbreaks. Two norovirus outbreaks are being blamed on sick employees. Tomatoes have been named as the source for salmonella outbreaks in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
But the company's executives are unclear how the E. coli outbreaks happened, including at a Shawnee.
Some customers of that store suffered that food poisoning in November.
Previous story: Chipotle urges workers to stay home if they're sick
"I was kind of heartbroken because I don't want to get sick because of it," said Evelyn Adame, a customer. "I'm back so I'm taking the risk."
Documents the 41 Action News investigators obtained show the Shawnee restaurant's annual inspection in February showed no significant issues.
After health experts confirmed the E. coli outbreak in December, inspectors came the next day. Again, didn't find anything wrong.
"I'm sure that they've taken steps that they need to rectify any situation that would be unhealthy," said Courtney Schaunaman, a customer.
Chipotle executives say they've made changes to how workers prepare and handle food including enhanced internal training and high tech testing of food from suppliers that far exceeds state and federal standards.
MORE: A focus on food safety
Monday's closures were in part to go over those changes in the national employees meeting and to praise those workers for implementing those changes.
"I think it's good for them and obviously good for the public because it'll build our trust back up to come again," Adame said.
"I think that's a great plan," said Schaunaman. They're going to lose a lot of money to hopefully gain the respect and trust of all of their customers," she said.
41 Action News investigators went through inspection records of Chipotle stores throughout the Kansas City area.
Investigators did find critical violations like gnats by the mop sink and drink fountain Dec. 29 at the Main Street store in Kansas City.
Several instances of food not being kept at the right temperature at some stores were also reported..
However, in each instance, the issues were ultimately resolved.
"I'm a big fan," said Adame. "I love Chipotle, I don't know if I can stop eating it," she said.
Kansas Department of Agriculture Inspections Director Autumn Schuck points out those inspections, which are unannounced, are just a snapshot in time and offer no guarantees.
However she adds any report of a food borne illness will get an inspection team to that restaurant the next business day.
In another effort to better control their own food supply, Chipotle executives announced Monday a commitment to a $10 million fund to help local growers supply their food and meet the company's new more stringent safety standards.
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Andy Alcock can be reached at anderson.alcock@kshb.com.
