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

POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD MEETS TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENT DURING STORAGE, PREPARATION DISPLAY AND SERVICE - Comments: Found 40lbs of cooked rice in the large walk in cooler at 57.1f. Facility stated the rice was cooked yesterday. Instructed facility to maintain all potentially hazardous foods at 40f or below or 140f or above and to cool down cooked foods to 70F in 2 hours maximum and then to 40f in an additional 4 hours maximum. Operator discarded and denatured said food with a stated value of $120. 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 a foodhandler touching ready to eat foods with his bare hands: a sandwich bun/bread, tortillas, and garnishes (cheese and cilantro). Instructed facility that there is to be no bare hand contact with ready to eat foods. Operator discarded said items and reviewed with employees. 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 raw chicken stored above vegetables and fish in the rear prep 2 door cooler. Also found raw beef stored above cut vegetables and garnishes in the front counter 2 door prep top cooler. Instructed facility to store all items in order of final cooking temperature with highest final cooking temperature on bottom and lowest on top and to maintain. Operator corrected at time of inspection. 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 IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED - Comments: Observed prepackaged items for sale at the front counter without labels. Instructed facility to label and maintain all items that are packaged with name, date, ingredients, and location of production/purchase.

Improper methods result in slow cooling that allows bacterial growth.

Approved cooling methods must be used.

Use shallow pans, ice baths, rapid chill units, ice wands; Cut large items into smaller portions; Stir frequently; Leave uncovered during cooling.

FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS - Comments: Observed grease and food debris accumulated on the sides and exterior surfaces of the cooking equipment throughout. Instructed facility to clean and maintain. Observed slight dirt accumulation on the upper, interior portions of the basement ice machine. Instructed facility to clean, sanitize, and maintain.

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.

FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED - Comments: Observed dirt and debris on the floors throughout: along wall bases, behind and under equipment, and heavy buildup under the rear fryers. Instructed facility to clean and maintain.

Damaged floors harbor bacteria and create safety hazards.

Floors must be smooth, cleanable, and maintained.

Smooth, non-porous in food areas; Properly sloped to drains; Coving at wall junctures; Kept clean; Good repair.

VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED - Comments: Instructed facility to install and maintain an exposed hand sink immediately adjacent and accessible to the basement prep area right outside of the walk in coolers. Sink must have hot and cold running water under city pressure, soap, and paper towels. Instructed facility to obtain and maintain stoppers for all compartments of the three compartments sinks on site.

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.

VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED - Comments: Instructed facility to install and maintain an exposed hand sink immediately adjacent and accessible to the basement prep area right outside of the walk in coolers. Sink must have hot and cold running water under city pressure, soap, and paper towels. Instructed facility to obtain and maintain stoppers for all compartments of the three compartments sinks on site.

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.