Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Hummus

Chrissie Cole

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378 people claim they have experienced salmonella poisoning after ingesting food purchased from the pars Cove Persian Cuisine booth at the Taste of Chicago. This number is up from the 126 cases originally reported, according to the Chicago Department of Health.

Two thirds of the 378 reported cases have been confirmed as salmonella illness. More test results are pending. Amongst 32 people tested, 18 have been confirmed to have Salmonella Heidelberg, a common strand in the United States.

Most of the people affected by the Salmonella outbreak live in the Chicago area. Many of the received reports were from people who were ill but recovered.

Health officials said it's too early to say how the bacteria got into the food remains unknown. But they confirmed Friday that the hummus shirazi- a salad made of fresh herb, tomato and cucumber is considered the only source of the salmonella outbreak.

Taste of Chicago is a tradition of the city. The food safety requirement is intense, according to health officials. Vendors are trained to prepare and serve food. And food served in about 70 booths is inspected four times a day from early morning to midnight. Salmonella outbreak associated with Pars Cove's hummus shirazi is the first associated with the event in the last 20 years, according to the city health department.