Wheaton students safe from tainted salad dressing
December 28, 2006
By RON PAZOLA staff writer
Principal Jill Bullo assured parents in a letter last week that salad dressing contaminated by a Wheaton North High School student poses no health hazards.
"We are pleased to report that no follow-up medical attention is needed for any student who ingested Ranch salad dressing," Bullo said in the letter mailed to parents Dec. 22.
Marco Castro, 17, confessed to police Dec. 12 that he had taken a salad dressing container Dec. 6 from the school cafeteria and ejaculated into the contents in a nearby restroom. He then returned the container to the cafeteria.
According to Bullo, the matter has been investigated by the DuPage County Health Department and the Illinois Department of Public Health.
"Based on this investigation, students and parents do not need to take any health-related actions relative to this situation," Bullo said. "There is no risk to students."
Health Department and school officials cited privacy laws in refusing to give more information about Castro's tests.
The contents of the salad dressing container remained in the junior-senior cafeteria for more than two days until students reported the incident to school officials. At least two students reported eating the tainted dressing, District 200 officials said.
Bullo said she could not comment on how Castro was reprimanded by the school or if he had been suspended. "We did what we could in the matter," she said.
Castro, a senior at Wheaton North, was charged with attempted aggravated battery and disorderly conduct, a class A misdemeanor. If students press charges against Castro, he could face felony charges.
Castro is scheduled to appear in court Jan. 24.
December 28, 2006
By RON PAZOLA staff writer
Principal Jill Bullo assured parents in a letter last week that salad dressing contaminated by a Wheaton North High School student poses no health hazards.
"We are pleased to report that no follow-up medical attention is needed for any student who ingested Ranch salad dressing," Bullo said in the letter mailed to parents Dec. 22.
Marco Castro, 17, confessed to police Dec. 12 that he had taken a salad dressing container Dec. 6 from the school cafeteria and ejaculated into the contents in a nearby restroom. He then returned the container to the cafeteria.
According to Bullo, the matter has been investigated by the DuPage County Health Department and the Illinois Department of Public Health.
"Based on this investigation, students and parents do not need to take any health-related actions relative to this situation," Bullo said. "There is no risk to students."
Health Department and school officials cited privacy laws in refusing to give more information about Castro's tests.
The contents of the salad dressing container remained in the junior-senior cafeteria for more than two days until students reported the incident to school officials. At least two students reported eating the tainted dressing, District 200 officials said.
Bullo said she could not comment on how Castro was reprimanded by the school or if he had been suspended. "We did what we could in the matter," she said.
Castro, a senior at Wheaton North, was charged with attempted aggravated battery and disorderly conduct, a class A misdemeanor. If students press charges against Castro, he could face felony charges.
Castro is scheduled to appear in court Jan. 24.
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