Chipotle offers free burrito to customers who had to change lunch plans

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Those who tried to go to Chipotle for lunch Monday found the doors locked and the lights off.

All of the burrito chain's restaurants around the country shut down from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for employee food safety training.

Chipotle offered customers who had to change their lunch plans a chance to have a burrito on them.

The company instructed customers to text "Raincheck" to 888-222 between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time in order to receive a free burrito a few days after the closure.

The training came after hundreds of people got sick with norovirus, E. coli and salmonella after eating at Chipotle in 2015.

“I was hoping to get their burrito bowl here, it’s pretty good. So it’s kind of disappointing that they weren’t open,” said Jasper Ragadio, who walked away empty-handed from the St. Johns Town Center location Monday.

Chipotle tweeted and broadcasted live on the streaming app Periscope to give customers an inside look at the employee training.

Employees learned about new ways Chipotle is testing, cleaning and blanching produce -- submerging limes, avocados and more in boiling water -- to make sure it’s safe for customers to eat.

The restaurant chain is now washing and dicing produce like tomatoes in central kitchens instead of individual restaurants.

It’s also launched a paid sick leave program to discourage employees from coming to work and preparing food if they’re not feeling well.

“It’s good that they’re taking precautions, training their employees to be cleaner,” said Ragadio.

Grace Mills and Allen Adams came to the St. Johns Town Center to study during lunch Monday. They said they were disappointed by the timing.

“It’s a little inconvenient. Maybe at another time. Lunch is pretty busy here. It’s really packed. The lines are crazy,” said Allen.

Chipotle will reopen for dinner Monday night.

Cox Media Group