Salmonella Cases Linked to Minnesota Chipotle Restaurants

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - State health officials are investigating an outbreak of salmonella linked to eating at Chipotle restaurants in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Department of Health said Thursday that 45 cases of the food-borne illness have been reported since Sept. 2.

Of the 34 people who have been interviewed so far, 32 ate or likely ate at 17 different Chipotle restaurants. Most of the restaurants are in the Twin Cities, with one in St. Cloud and one in Rochester.

The Minnesota cases range in age from 15 to 67 years old. Five people have been hospitalized, and all are recovering.

Investigators from the Minnesota health and agriculture departments are trying to identify a single food source of the outbreak.

Denver-based Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. says it's working with health officials to determine a cause.