Ohio woman orders Chipotle. She’s in for a shock when she removes the lid: ‘Is that black mold?’

A Chipotle customer has sounded the alarm on TikTok after opening her order and finding something suspicious on the container it was served in.

In her video, which got over 115,500 views, Ohio-based user @in.newyork.i.millyrock films her burrito bowl up close.

“Chipotle BRUH IM PISSEDDDD,” she wrote in the video’s text overlay.

The paper bowl appears to have a thin black ring around the rim. @in.newyork.i.millyrock thinks it is something that should not be anywhere near food.

“Y’all, am I tweaking or is that [expletive] black mold around my chipotle bowl?” she says.

The TikToker also tagged the restaurant chain directly in the caption, writing, “@Chipotle ?? how does this even happen…”

Viewers Aren’t So Sure

In the comments, viewers suggested a few possible explanations.

“Do you have black beans?” one commenter asked. “Could it bean ‘juice’?”

Another person thought it may have come from the lid.

“It’s aluminum transfer from the lid,” they wrote.

The most common guess, however, was that it was some kind of residue from the counter or make line.

“Chipotle worker here, it is most likely metal shaving from the make line as we have to stack all bowl facing down to prevent dust or any debris from falling in,” one commenter wrote. “Ofc the employee who made your order should’ve discarded the bowl you have.”

Could It Actually Be Mold?

It is unclear what exactly @in.newyork.i.millyrock found on her burrito bowl. But as several commenters pointed out, mold may not be the most likely explanation.

For that to be the case, the area where bowls were stacked or prepared would presumably have to be contaminated enough for mold to transfer onto food packaging. That would be a much bigger issue.

But Chipotle locations have had inspection issues involving “mold-like” substances before.

In August 2024, a complaint inspection at a Clermont, Florida Chipotle found food-contact surfaces soiled with “food debris, mold-like substance or slime.” The report mentioned the cheese shredder, heavily soiled green cutting boards, and cooler gaskets.

In January 2024, an inspection at a Fort Myers Chipotle documented a “mold-like substance” inside the ice chute of a self-serve soda fountain. The restaurant still met inspection standards during that visit.

And in January 2023, an Orlando Chipotle inspection described a black mold-like substance beside a Minute Maid lemonade soda nozzle.

Other customers have also reported concerns with their Chipotle order.

In one Facebook post, a customer warned others to check their orders from a Chipotle Mexican Grill in Royersford, Pennsylvania, after they said their child’s kids’ meal came with moldy fruit.

“The Kids meal comes with a fruit, ours came with mold,” they wrote, adding that they checked the meal before anyone ate it. “Still pretty gross.”

Another TikTok creator also claimed they found what appeared to be mold in their to-go Chipotle bowl.

@in.newyork.i.millyrock @Chipotle ?? how does this even happen…. #chipotle #mold #blackmold #saxaphones ♬ Saxophones getting louder – Sped Up – AntonioVivald

The Mary Sue has reached out to Chipotle via email and the TikToker via direct message for comment.

Have a tip we should know? [email protected]