In an attempt to maintain its reputation for responsibly sourced products, Chipotle has temporarily stopped serving its carnitas topping following a violation at one of the producers of its pork product. Chipotle spokesperson Chris Arnold told the AP that an audit of the supplier's facilities on Friday revealed housing conditions not in line with the company's standards, which mandate that animals have access to the outdoors.
Chipotle has ceased serving the shredded pork topping in one third of its 1,724 stores, including some in New York; the AP spotted at least one store in NYC that wasn't offering the meat. Hopefully the supplier will remedy the violations but in the meantime, the company will explore other options, including using different cuts of pork and negotiating with other suppliers. "It's hard to say how long it will last," explained Arnold.
Last summer, the Denver-based company was forced to use conventionally raised beef when they were "growing faster than the supply of natural beef." And even when Chipotle's high standards (for a fast-food chain) are met, its suppliers' animals aren't "living in ideal conditions on Old MacDonald's farm," according to vice president of farm animal protection for The Humane Society of the United States Paul Shapiro. Time to get get on that tasty tofu train, folks.
