Chipotle Mexican Grill down after pulling jalapenos tied to salmonella cases

Shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG.N) were down about 6% at $35.50 after the company said it removed suspected jalapenos from some of its stores after identifying the peppers as a potential common ingredient linked to a salmonella outbreak.

The company said that after learning about a possible salmonella outbreak affecting several restaurant chains, it investigated its supply chain and is assisting public health authorities with their probe into the outbreak.

"(We) removed them (jalapenos) from the restaurants where they had been distributed, and replaced them with product from different growers" — Chipotle Mexican Grill.

The Minnesota Department of Health said 110 outbreak-related cases have been identified in the state; among 84 people interviewed, 75 reported eating at Chipotle between June 14 and July 14.

Bloomberg News reported earlier on Tuesday that the company had removed jalapenos from multiple stores in Minnesota after learning the peppers may be linked to a salmonella outbreak in the state that has sickened 110 people.

As of the last close, CMG stock was down 5.8% year to date.