CHICAGO, June 18 (UPI) -- A Chicago-area man who operates a brewery in his garage has experienced a breakthrough in "culinary brewing" -- the creation of pizza beer.

Tom Seefurth said his pizza brew, which one Aurora, Ill., restaurant now serves as Mamma Mia Pizza Beer, contains tomatoes, garlic, basil and oregano, giving it a taste and smell reminiscent of its solid-food namesake, the Chicago Tribune reported Monday.

Seefurth said his experiments in "culinary brewing" also led to the development of salsa beer, curry beer and even oatmeal raisin cookie beer. He said his largest obstacle in getting people to drink his creations is convincing them not to prejudge.

"The pizza beer is not for the Saturday night bowling alley," Seefurth said. "But it will appeal to a wide range of people if they keep an open mind."

Seefurth said he is seeking a deal with a regional brewery to get the beverage on tap in local Italian restaurants.

Firefighters told to drive slower

LONDON, June 18 (UPI) -- Firefighters in Sheffield, England, have been barred from speeding to certain types of emergency calls because of the traffic risks.

South Yorkshire ordered firefighters in the county to drive through traffic at a normal speed with their flashing lights and sirens switched off in all cases where there is not an immediate risk to life and property, The Daily Mail reported Monday.

However, some firefighters say traveling slower to minor incidents could allow those emergencies to escalate.

"This is ridiculous," said one senior fire official. "We are an emergency service. It could definitely put lives and property at risk.

"We often don't have the time of the information when are responding to an emergency to make judgments like this, he said. "Drivers are specially trained to drive carefully even with blue lights and sirens on and there are very few accidents in those situations.

"If someone is injured or dies because we stick to the speed limits and are held up in traffic we would be blamed not the people in the ivory towers who come up with these rules."

Cooks wear mouth masks for safety

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill., June 18 (UPI) -- A Highland Park, Ill., restaurant has adopted a policy of cooks wearing masks over their mouths while preparing food.

Chef Fructoso Sandoval of La Casa del Gordo restaurant said the measure is designed to assure patrons who can clearly see into the open kitchen that their food is safe, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Monday.

Sandoval said cooks are also encouraged to wear gloves and change their gloves and masks regularly.

"It's good for the customers," Sandoval said, "and it's good for my employees."

However, Leslie Piotrowski, a spokeswoman for the Lake County Health Department, said the measures are not required by any health rules.

"We don't feel the masks are a great public health benefit," she said.

Sandoval said the masks are also a boon to his employees.

"You breathe the smoke and the oil from the saute, and, at the end of the night, you feel sick," he said.

No-touching rule implemented at Va. School

FAIRFAX, Va., June 18 (UPI) -- Students at a middle school in Vienna, Va., are at arms-length with one another to avoid being punished under the institution's new no-touching policy.

Officials at Kilmer Middle School have defended their strict no-touching policy, alleging it helps them to keep order in the school's lunchrooms and hallways, The Washington Post said Monday.

But the new policy has prompted complaints from the parents of some students, who said such stringent measures stop children from learning in a real-life environment.

"How do kids learn what's right and what's wrong?" Vienna resident Henri Beaulieu asked. "They are all smart kids, and they can draw lines. If they cross them, they can get in trouble. But I don't think it would happen too often."

Her son Hal, who was disciplined recently after hugging his girlfriend in school, agreed with his mother's condemnation of the school's no-touching rule.

"I think you should be able to shake hands, high-five and maybe a quick hug," he told the Post. "Making out goes too far."