The company stated that its romaine lettuce undergoes a double-wash process, first as a whole head and again after being cut, to mitigate contamination risks. Sweetgreen representatives confirmed they are in active contact with suppliers to monitor the investigation, noting that no ingredients in their current supply chain have been linked to the outbreak. The FDA has yet to identify the specific product responsible for the latest health scare, which triggered a broader market reaction among restaurant stocks.

While Sweetgreen shares remained relatively stable at $6.05 by midday Friday, the industry at large felt the impact of the FDA’s announcement. Investors reacted to the uncertainty, with Cava Group and Chipotle Mexican Grill seeing declines of 2.6% and 1.3% respectively. This latest health concern follows high-profile investigations into lettuce sourced from Mexico, which were previously tied to thousands of illnesses and prompted a voluntary recall by Taylor Farms.