Chipotle Is Working With Palantir to Track Food Safety Risks
The burrito chain has enlisted Palantir for a platform that monitors pest incidents, employee illnesses, and other factors. The partnership comes after a nightmare summer for food safety across the US.
Chipotle is collaborating with Palantir to develop a food safety risk platform housed on Palantir's flagship software Foundry, according to WIRED. The platform analyzes elements like health department scores, pest incidents, and employee illnesses to assign a food safety score indicating the store's risk level. Chipotle spokesperson Erin Wolford confirmed the project, but declined further comment, while Palantir has not yet responded.
This partnership arrives during a troubling time for food safety, with over 12,800 illnesses linked to foodborne outbreaks in the US so far this year, primarily due to a cyclospora outbreak from iceberg lettuce. Chipotle avoided the recent cyclospora outbreak, as it doesn't serve the contaminated lettuce. However, in July, the company temporarily discontinued serving jalapenos from a supplier linked to a salmonella outbreak that caused over 430 illnesses.
Palantir has numerous food-and-beverage sector offerings, including contracts with Tyson (poultry), General Mills (cereals), and Wendy's (independent purchasing co-op). The Foundry platform aids these companies in managing inventory, automating ordering and delivery, and monitoring supply chains. Wendy's, for instance, employs Palantir's software to foresee potential ingredient shortages.
Palantir's corporate clientele now constitutes nearly half of its US business. In the latest quarter, the company reported US commercial revenue of $764 million, a 149% increase year-over-year. Additionally, Palantir has made significant contributions to government entities, including a $22 million contract with the FDA in 2022, for food safety and supply chain monitoring.
Despite these successes, Palantir remains recognized for its work with government agencies, particularly in supply chains and food safety. Palantir is also linked to the controversial ICE surveillance platform, which has raised concerns given the high immigrant workforce in the restaurant industry. In 2010 and 2011, Chipotle had to let go of hundreds of ineligible workers after an ICE audit. Chipotle CEO Scott Boatwright acknowledged the significance of addressing potential employee impacts from immigration changes.
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