E. coli investigation looks at grocer's salad bars

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Health officials trying to determine the source of an E. coli outbreak in St. Louis are looking at salad bars at the region's largest grocery chain.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is doing tests to confirm whether E. coli is responsible for sickening 35 people in St. Louis city and four surrounding counties. So far, 28 of the illnesses are confirmed as E. coli.

Twenty-six of the suspected cases are out of St. Louis County, and many of those interviewed in the county say they ate at Schnucks salad bars. St. Louis County Health Department spokesman John Shelton says officials have not pinpointed a specific food item.

Schnucks says it has removed some items from its salad bars as a precaution.