On a veto-proof 15-2 vote, the Cook County Board responded to angry constituents Wednesday by repealing Chicago’s hated soda pop tax.
Board President Toni Preckwinkle did not say if she’d veto the repeal, which would then require a perfunctory override vote.
No matter. The penny-per-ounce tax on soda and other sugary drinks imposed in the…
Since first enacted on March 1, 2015, in Berkeley, CA, the sugar tax on soft drinks has tempted cities around the country. Chicago, however, is ready to drop the “soda pop tax.”
The soda pop tax would have raised $200 million next year from the penny-per-ounce levy on sugar and artificially sweetened beverages. Cook County…
The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) has identified a new Salmonella outbreak that has sickened at least 14 people, six of whom have required hospitalization.
The CDPH investigation links the outbreak to Best BBQ Ribs at 1648 W. 115th St. in Chicago. Best BBQ closed voluntarily today at CDPH’s request and is fully cooperating…
Although Chicago’s health department has plans to add less than half the number of the restaurant inspectors the city’s Inspector General Joe Ferguson recommended, he says it should be enough to perform the minimum number of inspections required by state law.
In a follow-up report issued Wednesday, Ferguson said the Chicago Department of Public Health…
A 71-year-old man is facing 18 months in federal prison for taking bribes in exchange for giving false food safety training certificates to foodservice workers from 2008 to 2015.
Ernest Griffin negotiated a plea agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice in the case, admitting last year to one count of federal program bribery. U.S.…
Local, state and federal officials are investigating Ton Shen Health in relation to elevated lead levels in children and two deaths that occurred after people took a Life Rising brand dietary supplement. The Chicago-based Ton Shen Health company recalled one lot of Life Rising brand “DHZC-2” tablets on Aug. 11 after testing by the Food…
The national nonprofit advocacy group STOP Foodborne Illness is inviting supporters to “STOP @ Dovetail Brewery” for a benefit event in Chicago on Aug. 10. Tickets are available online for $85 each for the evening of craft beer, appetizers and jazz at the Windy City’s newest craft brewery, The Dovetail Brewery. On tap — literally…
The number of people sickened in an E. coli outbreak traced to a Chicago restaurant continues to increase, with 65 now confirmed. Twenty of the victims’ symptoms were so severe they were admitted to hospitals. Public health officials have not yet determined the root cause of the outbreak, which was traced to the Carbón Live…
UPDATED CONTENT July 7 — This story has been updated to include reports that the number of E. coli victims in the outbreak has doubled to 50, up from 25. A Chicago woman who had to spend three nights in a hospital after eating food from Carbon Live Fire Mexican Grill in Bridgeport has filed…
There’s a big deadline coming up on April 15 and it has nothing to do with Form 1040. Next Friday is the last day to register for the annual Food Safety Summit when full discounts will be available. The summit’s early bird registration rate and special hotel deals will not be available after Tax Day.…
“My husband ate at this restaurant on Friday 10/16/2015 and was admitted to the ICU with a bacterial infection from food poisioning [sic],” Kari F. wrote on the Mariscos San Juan Yelp page on Oct. 19. “It was a very scary experience for all. I hope that others affected are healing and doing ok. My…
