Maggots at the Fairmont hotel in Chicago during DNC spark investigation

CHICAGO - Authorities are still investigating whether saboteurs put insects into a breakfast buffet for delegates at the Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, sickening one person.

Speaking to reporters Thursday morning, Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling declined to discuss specifics of the investigation at the Fairmont Chicago hotel. Last month, Gaza war activists released insects at the Watergate hotel in Washington, D.C. in an effort to disrupt the stay of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

One witness staying at the Fairmont told USA TODAY the insects appeared to be crickets, while other news reports suggested maggots. Officials indicated the contamination happened around 6:45 a.m., and witnesses said all the food had been replaced within an hour.

"What I can tell you is that local and federal partners, we're working on that together," Snelling said. "There's just a little information about the possibly of someone walking in and placing things ... and later this was discovered."

He added: "I'm not sure those were maggots, there was sawdust, (possibly) mealworms. They look the same."

Illinois law makes it a felony to tamper with food or cosmetics, but the law limits it to "any substance capable of causing death or great bodily harm to a human." Mealworms, maggots and crickets are generally edible.

No one has claimed responsibility for the incident.

Delegates from Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio, Missouri and South Dakota are staying at the Fairmont. Hotel officials on Thursday referred questions to law enforcement.

The incident was the most recent example of ongoing efforts to disrupt the convention, including multiple bomb threats at hotels where delegates and other attendees are staying. Authorities told USA TODAY that "no credible threats were found."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Maggots at the DNC? Feds look into critters at Chicago buffet