Chicago food vendors flagged for health violations at Taste of Chicago

City inspectors documented significant food safety issues during the Taste of Chicago festival in Grant Park. Investigations revealed that two-thirds of the 2026 food vendors were flagged with health code violations, including overflowing garbage, backed-up sinks, and food being prepared in bushes. Additionally, more than 800 pounds of food were discarded due to improper temperatures.

Records indicate potential oversight gaps in the city’s application process. While all vendors serving food at the festival had a “pass” on file with the health department, fewer than half of the 81 vendors met the requirement of having a clean health inspection from a brick-and-mortar site or food truck within the last six months. Many of the existing passes were outdated or were conditional passes, which are issued when a restaurant has violations that do not pose an immediate hazard.