The Nation: Don't Let Chipotle Fool You

[marmar]

Don't Let Chipotle Fool You
posted by Peter Rothberg on 07/15/2009 @ 5:52pm


All this week, Chipotle is seizing on the opportunity to promote its brand by sponsoring country-wide free screenings of the great new documentary Food, Inc., which features a segment praising Chipotle's relationship with Polyface Farms, a model sustainable farm in Virginia.

There's just one problem here: Food, Inc.'s director, Robert Kenner, and co-producer, Eric Schlosser have been outspoken critics of Chipotle's exploitive production practices and just last month joined more than two dozen food justice leaders in signing a sharply-worded letter of protest to company CEO Steve Ells just last month.

Chipotle, the country's fastest-growing fast food chain, has resisted efforts by farm-workers demanding a lasting commitment to ending the brutal exploitation in Florida's fields. As the letter says, in part:

"We realize that Chipotle has announced that it's paying an extra penny per pound for tomatoes, but we have to ask: What has Chipotle done since that announcement to identify and cultivate growers who are willing to raise their labor standards and pass the penny along to their workers? Your company has shown admirable leadership in working with – and incubating – meat suppliers willing to meet your higher standards. But your failure to do that same hard work in the Florida tomato industry – together with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) – threatens to render your announcement an empty gesture aimed more at public relations damage control than an effort to make real change."

Chipotle has been able to successfully promote its "Food with Integrity" brand, and the company does adhere to sustainable practices when it comes to sourcing its meat -- that's why it got props in the film. But its regard for animals and the environment makes its lack of concern for the farmworkers who pick its produce even more glaring. .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thenation.com/blogs/actnow/452009/don_t_let_chipotle_fool_you

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

1. To summarize... ?

I like chipotle alot.

Are they saying they have poor agricultural practices?

[marmar]

2. I think the issue here is more with exploitive labor practices.

n/t

[global1]

3. Didn't Chipotle Have Some Sort Of Relationship With McDonalds?.....nt

[peekaloo]

4. Yes. McDonald's once held a majority share in the company.

relinquished a few years ago.

[alfredo]

17. McDonald's once owned Donato's and the quality fell. The founder bought

it back and and the quality rose.

[Catherine Vincent]

5. I love Chipotle

Chipotle and Chick-Fil-A are my two favorites. :)

[democrat_patriot]

8. Chik-Fil-A gave away free tea the first teabag day.

Also:

"The religious organizations to which Truett Cathy and Chick-fil-A have lent support include such groups as Focus on the Family."

"Chick-fil-A and Focus on the Family also have a history of cross-promotion. Chick-fil-A has also sponsored meetings by the group All Pro Dad; All Pro Dad is a group with affiliations with Focus on the Family via a group called Family First; Family First promotes a large number of conservative religious causes, including covenant marriage.

Chick-fil-A has also directly sponsored other religious campaigns. One of the groups sponsored by Chick-fil-A is Athletes In Action which is a sports missionary arm of the Campus Crusade for Christ."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chick-fil-A



Make your own choice of whether to spend your money elsewhere, or support these intolerant people.

[SoCalDem]

9. do they give away a free item every time a christian republican politician has an affair?

or does an angel just get its wings?

[peekaloo]

16. you get an extra pickle on your sammich.

}(

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. Chik fil a is owned by some whacky religious family

So is Hobby Lobby

[Catherine Vincent]

12. Yes, I know

But they're good! :)

[OllieLotte]

15. Chick-fil-A is my favorite fast food restaurant .

Food is consistantly good. The people are always very helpful and friendly. Closed on Sundays...darn.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

10. +1

Chick-Fil-A, Chipotle, Subway, and Swensons top the list of my favorite fast foods by far.
Chipotle takes the cake by far though.

[ContinentalOp]

14. Sad. I'm guessing you live somewhere without any good Mexican food? -nt-

[RufusTFirefly]

18. I'm guessing the answer is yes. Welcome to the culinary wasteland

I understand how those marooned in the suburban desert may find it difficult to "shop local" when it comes to most consumer goods. And I pity them. But when it comes to restaurants, almost everyone can go local. Why anyone would choose to dine at a gigantic chain is beyond me. It's bad for your stomach, often bad for workers rights and the environment, and bad for your local economy.

[happychemtrails2u]

23. Honestly, I am beginning to think that many people don't have good "taste"

and I mean that literally. They say some people just are not very discerning about flavors and don't have a very discriminating palate. I do and cannot stomach fast food places anymore. It's just too gross. I have eaten at Chipotle when it's an emergency and it's okay, as long as you don't try and take it to go. It doesn't travel well, LOL. Many people have never been exposed to a variety of cuisines and foods and actually can be quite phobic about trying new things. It seems utterly ridiculous to me, but that's life.

[happychemtrails2u]

22. LOL---ain't that the truth? When people name chains as their fave dining establishments

you have to wonder if their area is devoid of actual ethnic fare in "real" restaurants.

[Chisox08]

27. I have a locally owned Mexican food restaurant around the corner from me

Their food tops Chik-Fil-A and Chipotle by miles.

[Javaman]

13. Google is your friend: Chipotle and workers rights...

Thinking Chipotle For Lunch? Read This First If You Care About Workers' Rights

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/rights/140980/thinking_chipotle_for_lunch_read_this_first_if_you_care_about_workers'_rights/

The country's fastest-growing fast food chain has resisted calls for a commitment to ending the brutal exploitation in Florida's tomato fields.

Last week, leaders of the food justice movement -- including Eric Schlosser, Raj Patel, Frances Moore Lappe, and Robert Kenner, producer and director of the new documentary Food, Inc. -- sent a strongly-worded letter to Chipotle demanding that they "work with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers as a true partner in the protection of farmworkers' rights."

The letter comes in the wake of a recent breakthrough for the Campaign for Fair Food -- Whole Foods' announcement that two of Florida's leading organic producers, Alderman Farms and Lady Moon Farms, will implement the company's agreement with the CIW, including the penny-per-pound wage increase and a strict code of conduct.

What's in your Chipotle burrito?
http://www.americanrightsatwork.org/take-action/campaigns/whats-in-your-chipotle-burrito-20090625-789-306.html

That's what Chipotle – America's fastest-growing fast-food restaurant – vows to serve in its restaurants.

Tell that to the Florida farmworkers who pick many of Chipotle's tomatoes. They have one of the worst jobs in America, with sub-poverty wages, back-breaking labor, and unimaginable exploitation.

[happychemtrails2u]

19. What exactly do you love about it? I have been there more than a few times

and what irks me is that they will put white rice on your taco unless you make a point of telling them not to. Who the hell puts rice in tacos? It's just a cheap filler. And even if you ask for guac, they tend to put a tiny dallop. I make a point of asking for extra guac and salsa and skipping the rice.

[librechik]

26. Best. Guacamole. Anywhere.

And it's cafeteria style. Yes, you have to tell the server if you don't want rice. That really works.
And the tacos don't ever come with rice. You have to ask FOR it, in that case.

There's a Chipotle across the street from me and they have never shorted me on guac.

[Stinky The Clown]

25. Chik-Fil-A = Fundy Christofacist Crazies

[brendan120678]

6. Chipotle is yummy. (nt)

[spiritual_gunfighter]

7. This doesn't surprise me in the least

I would never eat there but I would never eat any fast food. I only assumed that this type of thing goes on with all fast food establishments. I have never read or heard of any of them being responsible.

[happychemtrails2u]

20. There has to be an across-the-board adherence to good practices

and I just cannot see how many companies fit the bill, although Bruegger's Bagels (spelling?) seems to be on the right track, from where I stand. They have recyling bins in the store, so customers don't toss plastic, glass and paper in the trash, they use fair trade coffee, and they seem to use less packaging for bagels. They don't put stuff into paper bags automatically, I mean.

[happychemtrails2u]

21. Interesting....I saw a movie on Monsanto's evil doings a few years back

at a community screening and Chipotle was the sponsor! They had tortilla chips, free coupons...I asked the person in charge if Chipotle used GMO-free corn. I cannot remember the response but it wasn't very clear what the deal was (and the movie was all about GMO).

[Froward69]

24. Chipolte #1

is near my home. Evans ave near Denver University. I have eaten there for years. However I have had so many of their burritos I can recall the taste and really never in the mood for one anymore.

[truedelphi]

28. If I read this correctly, Chipotle demonstrates real

Courage.

Courage in an age when Henry Waxman's HR 2749 may very well deny us food from the small time farmers.

San Francisco Chronicle had a very telling article that EVER PERSON concerned about organics and having real nutrition must read:
www.sfchroniclemarketplace.com/c/a/.../MN0218DVJ8.DTL

Big Industry will go after Chipotle, especially if Waxman's 2749 gets voted in!