EL TACONAZO JR. Gets Conditional Pass on Health Inspection - Chicago Restaurant

PROPER EATING, TASTING, DRINKING, OR TOBACCO USE - Comments: OBSERVED HALF EATEN BREAD ON PLATE & TO GO CONTAINER SHELF IN KITCHEN AND EMPLOYEE SNACKS ON HOT HOLDING CHIP TABLE. INSTRUCTED TO STORE AND CONSUME FOOD AND BEVERAGE IN DESIGNATED AREAS ONLY.

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 OBTAINED FROM APPROVED SOURCE - Comments: OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 35 CONTAINERS OF PACKAGED DESSERTS: FLAN, CHOCOFLAN(CAKE), AND VANILLA PUDDING - FOR SALE IN THE FACILITY FROM AN UNKNOWN AND UNAPPROVED SOURCE IN FRONT DISPLAY COOLER. ALL OF THE CONTAINERS WERE UNLABLED: NO IDENTIFICATION OF ITEM AND ITS CONTENTS, AND WITH NO LABEL OF BUSINESS NAME AND ADDRESS. PERSON IN CHARGE INFORMED INSPECTOR DESSERTS ARE HOME-PREPARED. MANAGER DISCARDED AND DENATURED ITEMS. INSTRUCTED ALWAYS TO PURCHASE ALL FOOD ITEMS FROM AN APPROVED SOURCE AND APPROVED FACILITY. PRIORITY VIOLATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-005

Inadequate facilities lead to poor hygiene practices and potential fecal contamination.

Sufficient, properly maintained toilet facilities required.

Adequate number for staff; Convenient location; Self-closing doors; Toilet paper; Covered waste receptacles; Maintained clean; Proper ventilation.

FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED - Comments: NOTED TOP INTERIOR SURFACE OF REAR PREP AREA ICE MACHINE NOT CLEAN. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ICE, CLEAN AND SANITIZE.

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.

PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES - Comments: NOTED IMPROPER INTERNAL TEMPERATURES OF TCS FOOD IN PREP COOLER AND WALK-COOLER SHRIMP 47.8 F AND RICE 45.7 F. PERSON IN CHARGE DISCARDED AND DENATURED APPROX. 64 LBS VALUED AT $40 PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION

Temperatures below 135°F allow bacteria to multiply, especially spore-formers that survive cooking.

Hot foods must be held at 135°F or above.

Maintain 135°F or above; Check temperatures regularly; Proper hot holding equipment; Cannot reheat in hot holding units.

PROPER DATE MARKING AND DISPOSITION - Comments: OBSERVED READY-TO-EAT, TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY (TCS) FOODS (COOKED CHICKEN, SUADERO(BEEF), PASTOR (PORK), GRILLED PEPPERS AND ONIONS) IN KITCHEN 2 DOOR REFRIGERATOR NOT LABELED TO INDICATE THE PRODUCT'S NAME AND DATE BY WHICH THE FOOD MUST BE SOLD, DISCARDED, OR CONSUMED WITHIN 7 DAYS OF PREPARATION. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PROPER LABELS FOR DATE MARKING AND DISCARD DATE FOR REFRIGERATED, READY-TO-EAT, TCS FOODS HELD OVER 24 HOURS PLACED IN ALL COLD-HOLDING UNITS. PERSON IN CHARGE DISCARDED AND DENATURED APPROX. 19 LBS VALUED AT $80 PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED

Inadequate reheating fails to kill bacteria that grew during storage.

Foods must be reheated to 165°F within 2 hours.

Reheat to 165°F within 2 hours; Use proper equipment (not hot holding units); Discard if not reaching temperature in time.

FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER - Comments: OBSERVED SELF-SERVE SWEETS IN DISPLAY CASE NOT PROPERLY LABELED. ITEMS IN THE CASE ARE NOT SEPARATED OR INDIVIDUALLY LABELED. ONE ITEM CONTAINS TREE NUTS AND IS IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH OTHER CANDY STORED IN THE SAME CASE - ITEMS WITH TREE NUTS SHOULD BE SEPARATED TO PREVENT CROSS-CONTAMINATION. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROPERLY LABEL ALL PACKAGED FOOD ITEMS WITH IDENTITY, NET WEIGHT, INGREDIENTS, AND MAJOR ALLERGENS LISTED, BUSINESS NAME AND ADDRESS WHERE MADE AND PACKAGED. PERSON IN CHARGE DISCHARGED APPROXIMATELY 5 LBS, VALUED AT $20. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.

Missing allergen labeling can cause severe allergic reactions.

All food properly labeled with required information.

Common name; Ingredients; Allergen declarations; Date marking; Manufacturer info; Net quantity.

WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED - Comments: OBSERVED GREEN AND WHITE WIPING CLOTHS ON CUTTING BOARD IN KITCHEN AND ON TOP OF REAR PREP TABLE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PROPER SANITIZING BUCKETS WITH SANITIZING SOLUTION FOR HOLDING WIPING CLOTHS BETWEEN USES

Contaminated cloths spread bacteria across multiple surfaces.

Wiping cloths must be properly sanitized and stored.

Store in sanitizer between uses (200ppm quat or 50-100ppm chlorine); Separate cloths for food and non-food surfaces; Test sanitizer concentration.

FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED - Comments: NOTED CUTTING BOARD IN REAR PREP AREA WITH DEEP CUTS AND STAINS. INSTRUCTED TO DEEP CLEAN AND RESTORE TO A SMOOTH AND EASY TO CLEAN SURFACE BY SANDING, RESEALING, OR REPLACING AND MAINTAINING.

Poor design creates areas that harbor bacteria.

All surfaces must be designed to be easily cleanable.

Smooth, non-porous surfaces; Free of cracks and crevices; Easily disassembled; Accessible for cleaning.

FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED - Comments: NOTED CUTTING BOARD IN REAR PREP AREA WITH DEEP CUTS AND STAINS. INSTRUCTED TO DEEP CLEAN AND RESTORE TO A SMOOTH AND EASY TO CLEAN SURFACE BY SANDING, RESEALING, OR REPLACING AND MAINTAINING.

Poor design creates areas that harbor bacteria.

All surfaces must be designed to be easily cleanable.

Smooth, non-porous surfaces; Free of cracks and crevices; Easily disassembled; Accessible for cleaning.