Chipotle CEO apologizes for E. coli outbreak, pledges restaurants will soon be the 'safest place to eat'

Chipotle founder and co-CEO Steve Ells appeared on NBC's Today Show Thursday morning to let America know two things: First, that he's really sorry for the E. coli outbreak linked to Chipotle restaurants, and second, that the company's restaurants are now operating well above the industry's health standards.

"This was a very unfortunate incident and I'm deeply sorry that this happened," Ells said. "But the procedures we're putting in place today are so above industry norms that we are going to be the safest place to eat." Ells emphasized that the company has run "thousands and thousands of tests" and that they have all come back "negative for E. coli."

An estimated 52 people across nine states have been affected by the E. coli outbreak reportedly linked to Chipotle restaurants. Most recently, Boston College alleged that 120 of its students had fallen ill after eating at a local Chipotle restaurant. Health officials confirmed Wednesday that the affected students were infected by norovirus, which The Wall Street Journal describes as "highly contagious and...spread by contaminated food, improper hygiene and contact with contaminated surfaces." They are still awaiting results from an E. coli test.

Since the outbreak, Business Insider reports the company's stock has fallen an estimated 20 percent. Sales have reportedly declined between 8 percent and 11 percent.