All News / Outbreaks /

Pars Cove Salmonella Outbreak at Taste of Chicago Lawsuits - Illinois (2007)

On Wednesday, July 11, 2007, the City of Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced that the agency was investigating a number of cases of Salmonellosis that at the time appeared to be related to consumption of foods served at the Pars Cove Persian Cuisine booth at the Taste of Chicago festival held the weekend of July 7.

In what was reported to be the first confirmed outbreak of foodborne illness associated with Taste of Chicago in 20 years, CDPH announced that 17 people appeared to have illnesses associated with the Pars Cove Taste of Chicago booth; five had been confirmed as suffering Salmonella infections, several sought medical care and at least three were admitted to hospitals. CDPH urged anyone who had visited the Pars Cove booth and was experiencing symptoms of gastrointestinal illness to contact a health care provider and report their illness to the health department.

In a press release on July 13, CDPH announced that hummus shirazi, a fresh herb tomato cucumber salad over a bed of hummus, was the only dish served at the Pars Cove booth that was associated with illness.

More cases continued to be reported over the following weeks, and by August 8, 2007, CDOH had identified 790 people who reported becoming ill after eating food from the Pars Cove booth at the Taste of Chicago festival; 182 were lab-confirmed as Salmonella cases, with 169 cases identified as Salmonella Heidelberg. CDOH stated that 38 people had been hospitalized with Salmonella infections during the outbreak.

Marler Clark represented 23 clients in claims against Pars Cove. The law firm has resolved all cases.

Get Help

Affected by an outbreak or recall?

The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more.

Get a free consultation
Related Resources
Salmonella Food Poisoning

What is Salmonella and how does it cause food poisoning? The term Salmonella refers to a specific group of gram-negative bacteria with the potential to cause gastrointestinal distress and other...

The Incidence of Salmonella Infections

Typhoidal Salmonella Salmonella enterica serotypes Typhi, Sendai, and Paratyphi A, B, or C are found exclusively in humans. These serotypes, collectively referred to as typhoidal Salmonella, cause enteric fever (also...

The Prevalence of Salmonella in Food and Elsewhere

Most Salmonella infections are caused by eating contaminated food. One study found that 87% of all confirmed cases of Salmonella are foodborne. Foods of animal origin, including meat, poultry, eggs...

Transmission of Salmonella Bacteria

In the past two decades, consumption of produce, especially sprouts, tomatoes, fruits, leafy greens, nuts, and nut butters, has been associated with Salmonella illnesses. The surface of fruits and vegetables...

Symptoms of Salmonella Infection

Symptoms of Salmonella infection include painful abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and fever. Salmonella infections can have a broad range of illness, from no symptoms to severe illness. The most common clinical...

Outbreak Database

Looking for a comprehensive list of outbreaks?

The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more.

View Outbreak Database