On my birthday last Friday, I received an AMAZING present. It was an email from Chris Arnold, the Communications Director at Chipotle, that read “Tadah!” in the subject line and had a link attached to the body of the email.
The link directed me to the Chipotle’s website where they finally released a comprehenstive list of all their ingredients online.
Back in August of last year, I did an investigation that ultimately left me frustrated with the company. When inquiring about the ingredients – I was met with significant challenge and had to work my way around the corporate headquarters to actually find out the ingredients.
Here’s an excerpt and infographic from my investigation that sums up my experience quite nicely –
When I emailed Chipotle asking for the ingredients in certain products they downright refused. They in turn asked if I was concerned about a specific ingredient or had an allergy. Really? Why do I have to be concerned about a specific ingredient or have an allergy to want to know what I am eating and what’s in my food? When I tried to call them, there was no way for me to leave a message or get a person on the phone to answer my questions. Email responses were S-L-O-W. I had to ask very specific questions to get the data I needed to write this – specific questions that most consumers would likely not ask. Thank goodness for the genuinely accommodating employee who shared some of the ingredients with me (behind his Manager’s back) so I could give you the full story.
A few weeks after my investigation, Chris from Chipotle contacted me and asked me to meet with him, so I could better understand their challenges with posting their ingredient list. I’ve been in contact with him ever since – asking for periodic updates and making sure he knew I wasn’t going to let Chipotle off the hook. To keep the pressure on, some folks were so inspired by the investigation, that they created a petition on my behalf, where 2400+ people shared their voice in concern.
So that begs the question – what’s really in Chipotle’s food now that we can easily find the ingredients and read them for ourselves? Some of the original results of my investigation still hold true – but Chipotle made a major oil switch in some of their products like the black beans that don’t use GMO oil any longer and has made a fanastic committment to eliminate the transfat, preservatives and other GMO ingredients in the future.
As you can see – putting pressure on companies to change their ingredients and petitioning them to change their practices leads to actual results. We together are changing the food system – and today we have a win in terms of true transparency and knowing what’s in our food!
If you live in Manhattan – Chipotle is using rice bran oil instead of the GMO soybean oil for meat preparation – so for you lucky New Yorkers, you can avoid the GMO oil they currently use in their chicken and beef.
For the rest of us, in the meantime, I still wouldn’t order the chicken, beef, tortilla products, rice, salad dressing or chips – those items still contain GMO soybean oil. In several states, the chips and corn tortillas have benzoic acid – a preservative that I would avoid at all costs. Studies have shown this ingredient to be linked to decreased good bacteria in the gut in animal studies. The Mayo Clinic reported that this preservative increases hyperactivity in children. Also, when this acid combines with ascorbic acid (vitamin C), it can form benzene, carcinogen that damages DNA in cells and accelerates aging.
Chipotle’s burrito and flour taco shells have partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (a.k.a. trans fat). “A 40-calorie-per-day increase in trans fat intake can lead to a 23% higher risk of heart disease.” 40 calories is a mere 2% of a typical 2000 calorie per day diet. Trans fats can be deadly even in a small amount and as you can see will easily add up if you go over one serving size.
Also the pinto beans, contain pork bacon and have sodium nitrate – a substance linked to cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
I have to be completely honest, I haven’t been to Chipotle in over six years, but I wouldn’t be shy about eating there again now that I know I can order some options without GMOs, preservatives, and transfat. I’m actually pretty excited about that fact.
This is what my order would look like if I went there… A salad with:
- Organic black beans
- Romaine lettuce
- Fresh tomato salsa (and maybe try the others without the corn)
- A huge serving of guacamole
- Possibly sour cream or cheese if I were feeling fancy
- If you are a meat eater – you could add pork carnitas to that list – since they do not use any GMO oil during the cooking preparation
I hope you celebrate this accomplishment with me and praise Chipotle for their changes.
It’s a great day in the world – however, we have a lot more work to do, don’t we? I can only wonder when Kraft will have the courage to meet with us and address the concerns of over 270,000+ consumers.
Food Babe
P.S. See a news article in Take Part here discussing these changes!
That’s awesome! I left them a thank you comment on Facebook!
I thanked them too
Fantastic work!!! Thank you for all the work you do for us.
Awesome! Thank you:)
Awesome!!!!!!
That’s awesome! Keep up the great work Food Babe! And thanks to Chipotle! We LOVE Chipotle! I always order pork. Too bad on the rice:( I love it! Keep making positive changes Chipotle!
WOW. Amazing. Thank you for all the data. You’re awesome!!
You rock FB!
That’s awesome! I hope more restaurants follow in their footsteps. Keep up the great work and thank you for all you do!
I agree. Would love to see even more restaurants partnership and share interest in the health of their customers without the need to petition them. After all its because of us they stay in business
I will leave a thank you to Chipotle and I also thank you for being so persistent in getting the job done.
As to your last comment about Kraft–I was just wondering if they would take a “consumer” challenge and put BOTH the European version–no dyes-along side the US version with dyes and see how the sales would stack up percentage wise. It could be an eye opener for them.
Thanks again for all your hard work in trying to improve the quality of the foods we eat.
That’s great news. I give Chipotle credit… it’s hard to navigate the crazy food world we live in. Something so simple and pure as food has become a “hot topic.” Crazy! Anyway I frequent them often and that is the ONLY fast restaurant I go to. No others. I do avoid the corn because I don’t eat grains so it works out for me. I always praised them for using non-hormone non-abx chicken!!!
Well done Food Babe! You rock!!! Thank you for all you stand for!
Great work! Thank you for keeping on top of Chipotle! Happy birthday!
I left a “thank you” on their FB site as well. Well done!
Way to go!
Funny! We eat at Chipotle every other week or so, and my order is exactly what you listed! Sadly, this is NOT what my husband orders. He gets the carnitas burrito.
I’m bummed about the chips – we love those.
That is wonderful news ! You must have beenn ao incredibly excited to see that email !!
Your hardwork behind the
scenes and persistence has paid off. I have never eaten at chipotle and never will, but still, I think people have the right to know what they are eating!
GREAT JOB !!!
Thank you so much for this! My family enjoys Chipotle. I’m glad that we can go there and order food that supports our health!
Vani, you rock! You are a blessing 🙂
Thanks so much!!! Let’s continue fighting! Thank you for being such a big voice for us!
A step in the right direction, that earns some respect in my book.
Thank you Food Babe! This is so helpful to know since I cut out GMO’s, perservatives, and artificial flavorings. Chipotle was the only fast food place I would eat from and now I know to stay away until they improve their ingredients. The work you’re doing is amazing and I’m grateful(: Keep doing what you do! <3
Thanks for posting a “safe” meal, as well. My friends love to eat there and I have to decline. Now I don’t.
I really like what you do for all of us! Thank You, and keep it up…Please!!!
I am pleased and proud to be a small part of what you are leading, thanks for being such an awesome spokesperson for us.
Thanks for getting this done. I left a Thank You on Chipotle’s website. That’s all people are asking, to know what’s in their food. Well done!
CONGRATULATIONS!!! Awesome work by you and Lisa of 100 days of Real Food. I’m just so happy to see folks like both of you go up against the big food companies and force them to do the right thing (and help make consumers more aware so they can make good decisions). Keep up the great work!
Oh, and by the way, Happy (belated) Birthday!
This is awesome news! Thanks Foodbabe for all you do! I’m so inspired!
FoodBabe, I just started following you about a month ago. 1st I have to say Congrats on this huge accomplishment! But 2nd I have to say I’m really disappointed at the ingredients that Chipotle serves. I thought they were one of the only chains to serve grass fed meat and organic or local produce. Thanks for exposing the truth!
Thanks so much for all you do. I’m sure you were a big part of this decision. I appreciate it!
Congratulations and thank you. You work so very hard on our behalf.
You are supreme, Food Babe! Thanks for all you do!
The biotech food propaganda machine calls us “Luddite!” They love that goofy word, don’t they?
But what could be more “luddite” than a poorly-tested, 20th-century “technology” that doesn’t work and never did? What could be more “luddite” than a 20-century “technology” that apparently has not a single redeeming feature — only promises?
GMOs are a faith-based cult; there appears to be little (if any) rigorous, long-term science at work. At best, GMOs seem to be (to quote another source) nasty little “science fair projects.”
Thanks again, Food Babe!
Congratulations, this must be very personally satisfying. Great work!
In Southern California, their corn salsa is now made with white corn, so I asked a manager why, they said it was primarily to eliminate GMOs (apparently most white corn, if not all is GMO free and the white corn they are using is GMO free) and to secondarily that they were able to source it locally in quantities that they need. They also recently switched flour tortilla providers here for the same reason, or so I have been told. I only know the switched because the new tortillas rip a lot easier and some of the employees were complaining about it, so I also asked why the switch and was told the same.
I am not sure how true both statements are, but I have been told the same thing at different locations by other employees and managers as well.
YOU ROCK!
Thank you fo all you do!
what’s wrong with pork bacon?
Hi Joe,
The problem with bacon and processed meats is that they contain sodium nitrate, which is linked to heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Thanks!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
But FoodBabe, ALL milk in the US is antibiotic free. Its the law. As to hormones,.if you mean bovine growth hormones, most.farmers do not use them. Rbgh.free milk is available everywhere.
I thank you, Food Babe, for the pro-active endeavors that you take on in your dealings with the Goliaths of the food industry. I post your action alerts on other forums that I am a member of, where I see that they garner a great deal of support and participation.
As a businessman, I see a company like Chipotle’s, in a prime and unique position to capitalize on a group of health minded people that is growing faster than the people that run Kraft Foods realize. Short of future government interference, if the Chipotle bosses put their hearts on their sleeves, and improves the health product shortcomings, I believe they will become the fastest growing chain restaurant on the planet.
Awesome job! Can you share any research you’ve done on Panera Bread?
Thank you so much for having the energy and drive to do the things that matter so much! One person can change the world, one step at a time.
Thank you for all that you do. Your voice and tireless pursuit for safe food benefits all of us.
Great Job!! Keep up the good work!!!
March 22nd is my birthday too!
I haven’t seen much new in the supermarket but I’m rarely there. I’ll have to tak a look!
Thanks for your hard work Food Babe! Chipotle is the ONLY decent choice to eat out in my town besides Jason’s Deli, so I am glad that I now have an idea of what I can order to avoid GMOs. Keep up the good work- YOU ROCK!
It’s great to know that Chipotle is not organic. I hope they change.
I just started to follow your blog, awesome job! I live in Toronto so I know the meat they use is from an organic meat farm in Ontario. But not sure about the other ingredients and if they are GMO free or locally sourced but I’m curious to find out.
Thank you for really digging in to get this information. It wasn’t easy! I’ve been following your posts for only a month but I’ve already learned so much and feel that I have improved my health! Thank you for your hard work and willingness to share the truth!
What you “would” order is what I get there (and I usually feel fancy and go with a little sour cream and cheese – I don’t eat fast food often so why not?!) It is absolutely delicious and filling and I don’t feel like I’m missing a thing.
I expect Chipotle to be GMO free in the near future, but I’ll still go with my vegetarian salad bowl. I might add a few chips then, though. 😉
well that stinks that they have gmo’s in their food! =/ i hope they get rid of all that asap!