ARTURO'S TACOS Gets Conditional Pass on Health Inspection - Chicago Restaurant

FACILITIES TO MAINTAIN PROPER TEMPERATURE - Comments: Facility unable to maintain proper temperature in front reach in cooler. Air temperature found is 50.3F. Instructed cooler must be able to maintain internal temperature of 40F or less. All items removed. Cooler has been tagged and held for inspection. Instructed must not use cooler until it has been repaired, inspected by CDPH and tag removed. Critical violation 7-38-005(a).

Lack of certification indicates potential gaps in food safety knowledge, increasing risk of improper food handling and foodborne illness.

Valid City of Chicago Food Service Sanitation Certificate required and must be posted.

Certificate must be: Current and valid; Posted conspicuously in public view; Held by person in charge during all operating hours; Renewed before expiration date.

POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD MEETS TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENT DURING STORAGE, PREPARATION DISPLAY AND SERVICE - Comments: Found the following potentially hazardous foods at improper temperatures in the reach in cooler in the front prep area: 15lbs of guacamole @ 52.9F (valued at $ 45); 10bs of shredded cheese @ 52.6f ($18.9); 10lbs of shredded lettuce @ 50.4f ($22); 20lbs diced tomatoes @ 51.1f - 55.9f ($15); 2lbs of stuffed poblano peppers @ 55.9f ($19); 1lb of eggs @ 54.7f ($9.75 ); 5lbs carnitas @ 56.2f ($7.95); 1/5lbs of sliced cheese @ 57.0f ($2.5); 1lb of tripe @ 100.4f ($1.49 ); 1.5lbs pork chops @ 52.7f ($4.58); 15lbs of raw steak/beef @ 49.8f - 52.7f ($ 103.5); 5lbs barbacoa @ 53.4f ($2.70); and 5lbs of shrimp @ 52.3f ($ ). Operator voluntarily discarded denatured foods during inspection. Instructed all potentially hazardous foods must be held at 40F or less during storage (or 140f and above). Critical violation 7-38-005(a).

Ill food workers cause 70% of foodborne outbreaks. Proper reporting prevents transmission of Norovirus, Hepatitis A, Salmonella, and other serious diseases.

All food employees must understand and follow health reporting requirements and food safety responsibilities.

Employees must: Report illness symptoms and exposures; Be excluded/restricted when ill; Understand their role in preventing foodborne illness; Follow proper hygiene practices; Have signed health policy on file.

HANDS WASHED AND CLEANED, GOOD HYGIENIC PRACTICES; NO BARE HAND CONTACT WITH READY-TO-EAT FOODS. - Comments: Observed food handler using bare hands to prepare taco (touching tortilla, lettuce, avocado, etc.) Also witnessed same food handler cracking an egg with bare hands, and not washing hands before moving on to the next task, which was using a utensil for food at the grill. Instructed no bare hand contact with ready to eat foods. Must use gloves or utensils, and must wash hands when switching tasks and in between glove changes. Food handler put gloves on during inspection. Gloves supplied at each station. Critical violation 7-38-010(a).

Hands are #1 vehicle for pathogen transfer. Bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods causes majority of foodborne outbreaks.

Proper handwashing and no bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods.

Wash hands for 20 seconds with soap and warm water; Use utensils, deli tissue, or gloves for ready-to-eat foods; Wash hands after restroom, handling raw foods, touching face/hair, and between tasks.

FOOD PROTECTED DURING STORAGE, PREPARATION, DISPLAY, SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION - Comments: Found potentially hazardous foods improperly stored throughout facility. 2 door reach in cooler: raw chicken and fish stored directly above soup and sauce. walk in cooler: raw meats stored directly above cooked meats and produce; In front reach in cooler: eggs stored directly above produce and ready to eat foods. Operator corrected all coolers during inspection. Instructed must have eggs and raw items stored under ready to eat or cooked foods. Serious violation 7-38-005(a).

Dirty equipment harbors and spreads pathogens, causing cross-contamination and illness.

All food contact surfaces must be properly cleaned and sanitized.

Wash, rinse, sanitize after each use; Clean between different raw foods; Every 4 hours for continuous use; When contaminated; Proper procedures and chemicals.

This violation was corrected during the inspection.

FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED - Comments: Found heavily soiled cutting boards in kitchen prep area. Instructed to sand or replace. Must maintain. Waste pipe in basement only partially covered in basement dry storage area. Instructed to provide adequate protection above food items such as canned fruits/veggies and flour (drop ceiling or pipe covering) or move food items to proper storage area.

Unapproved processes may lack critical safety controls.

Variance required before conducting specialized food processes.

Submit application to CDPH; Include HACCP plan; Await approval before starting; Maintain all required records.

FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS - Comments: Found dust build up on vents above coffee and juice station. Instructed to remove, clean and sanitize.

Dirty equipment harbors bacteria and attracts pests.

All equipment and utensils must be clean and properly maintained.

Equipment clean to sight and touch; Free of food debris and grease; Maintained in good repair; Stored properly when clean.

LIGHTING: REQUIRED MINIMUM FOOT-CANDLES OF LIGHT PROVIDED, FIXTURES SHIELDED - Comments: Observed no working lights in dry storage (beer and soda) area. Instructed to repair. Must provide adequate lighting throughout facility.

Inadequate lighting prevents detection of contamination and pests.

Adequate protected lighting required in all areas.

50 foot-candles at prep surfaces; 20 foot-candles at 30 inches in storage; Shielded bulbs over exposed food; Clean fixtures.

VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED - Comments: Must install back flow device on utility sink in basement. Found leak under dish machine. Must repair and maintain. Must install hand sink in basement prep area or remove all prep items (prep tables, cutting boards, cutting or shredding machines). Instructed all prep areas must be equipped with convenient, easily accessible hand sink (complete with hot/cold water, soap and paper towels). Must maintain.

Pests spread numerous diseases through contamination.

No pests or animals allowed in facility.

No evidence of pests; No live animals except service animals; Effective pest control program.

REFRIGERATION AND METAL STEM THERMOMETERS PROVIDED AND CONSPICUOUS - Comments: Must provide thermometers in all coolers. Must also have a stem thermometer available for food handlers.

Poor personal hygiene transfers contaminants to food.

Food handlers must maintain personal cleanliness.

Clean outer clothing; Hair restraints; Short, clean fingernails; No jewelry except plain ring; Clean hands and arms.

REFRIGERATION AND METAL STEM THERMOMETERS PROVIDED AND CONSPICUOUS - Comments: Must provide thermometers in all coolers. Must also have a stem thermometer available for food handlers.

Poor personal hygiene transfers contaminants to food.

Food handlers must maintain personal cleanliness.

Clean outer clothing; Hair restraints; Short, clean fingernails; No jewelry except plain ring; Clean hands and arms.