LOS ANGELES — Three customers are suing Chipotle Mexican Grill, claiming that the Mexican fast-casual chain is misstating the number of calories in its dishes, providing as evidence the restaurant chain's 300-calorie chorizo burrito.
One of the plaintiffs in the proposed class-action lawsuit said he realized that the burrito "couldn't have been just 300 calories" after he became "excessively full" from his meal, according to the City News Service.
On its website, Chipotle lists its flour tortilla alone as having 300 calories. However, a board advertising the new chorizo burrito claimed that it contained only 300 calories.
@ChipotleTweets if a tortilla from chipotle has 300 calories by itself, how does a chorizo filled burrito also have only 300 calories??? pic.twitter.com/inepf71HKC
— Spencer Blank (@SB22_) November 9, 2016
"By providing false nutritional information for their menu items, consumers are lulled into a false belief that the items they are eating are healthier than they really are," the suit claims.
Chipotle apologized in a response on social media, writing that the chain is working to clarify its menu. The chorizo meat on its own is 300 calories, according to Chipotle.
Sorry for any confusion. We're working on a more clear menu panel. Check out our nutritional info here: https://t.co/5O89zztuo3. -Dre
— Chipotle (@ChipotleTweets) November 9, 2016
The lawsuit against the fast-casual chain was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court by three men who have bought chorizo burritos at different locations this month, the City News Service reported. It would cover anyone who has bought food at Chipotle in the four years leading up to the filing.
The suit seeks unspecified damages and an injunction to prevent Chipotle from putting misleading nutritional facts on its menus.
A representative for the company declined to comment on the lawsuit to Business Insider, citing its ongoing nature.
Chipotle spokesman Chris Arnold told the news website that the company doesn't discuss details surrounding pending legal actions as a matter of policy.
"I will note that we work very hard to maintain transparency as to what is in our food, including our practices for disclosing nutrition information," Arnold said. "I'd also note that a lawsuit is purely allegation and is proof of absolutely nothing."
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