Chicago Watchful for Second Helping of Tainted Taste

Officials remind of their limited role, year after salmonella outbreak at popular festival
By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 27, 2008 1:56 PM CDT
Chicago Watchful for Second Helping of Tainted Taste
The Hillary Burger at the Pickwick Restaurant in Park Ridge, Ill., Friday, May 11, 2007.    (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

With news still coming of people stricken by tomatoes tainted with salmonella, health officials say they're taking full precautions to prevent another outbreak at this year's Taste of Chicago, the Tribune reports. Booths will be inspected four times a day for sanitary conditions at the event, which begins today—though authorities warn they don't test actual dishes for safety.

Last year’s salmonella appearance, officials reminded, was due to bacteria already present in the dish when it was brought to the Taste. "When our inspectors inspect the food, we don't take it to a lab for testing,” Chicago’s health commissioner said. "All we're looking for is conditions that would promote the growth of bacteria." (More salmonella stories.)

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