Chipotle has made responsible food sourcing a part of their business model, releasing an award-winning ad last year that cleverly combined animation with a haunting version of “Pure Imagination” by Fiona Apple and showed us how making the wrong choices regarding ingredients can have a lasting impact on our bodies and the land. Now, they’re worried that changing global climates may have a negative effect on the things they put into their food, and are warning customers that they may have to suspend some items from their menu as a result. Specifically, their famous guacamole and salsas.
The burrito chain announced in an annual report last month that the terrible drought blanketing California may impact their ability to procure certain ingredients, namely those found in their guacamole and salsa.
“Increasing weather volatility or other long-term changes in global weather patterns, including any changes associated with global climate change, could have a significant impact on the price or availability of some of our ingredients,” Chipotle said in the statement. “In the event of cost increases with respect to one or more of our raw ingredients we may choose to temporarily suspend serving menu items, such as guacamole or one or more of our salsas, rather than paying the increased cost for the ingredients.”
But spokespeople for the restaurant say that the warning is simply a measure to ensure their customers are aware of what’s going on. More than likely, a slight price increase is all we’ll see.
“This is nothing more than routine risk factor disclosure. The sky is not falling,” said spokesman Chris Arnold. “I wouldn’t read too much into this.”
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