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Got Food Poisoning? City Is Watching Your Tweets

CHICAGO (CBS) -- If you post a tweet about a recent bout of food poisoning, you might expect to receive a tweet back from the city's Health Department--encouraging you to file a report.

Chicago Public Health Commissioner Bechara Choucair says his department takes food poisoning complaints very seriously.

"In most instances, the food poisoning might not be related to eating out," he told WBBM Newsradio. "It might not be food poisoning at all, but our role is to be making sure we are following up on those concerns and doing the right thing to ensure the safety of the public."

Since April, the Chicago Tribune reports, the city has automatically been searching Twitter for posts that include the words "food poisoning" from people in Chicago.

The health department says in its first month, reports about suspected food poisoning triggered 33 restaurant inspections, some of which uncovered violations.

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