LA GARITA DE SAN LUIS Fails Health Inspection - Chicago Wholesale

FACILITIES TO MAINTAIN PROPER TEMPERATURE - Comments: WALK-IN FREEZER UNIT ON SITE HOLDING AT 29F. SOME MEATS AND FISH HAD ICE CRYSTALS ON THEM FROM PARTIALLY THAWING AND REFREEZING. UNIT WAS OUT OF TEMPERATURE ON FRIDAY AUGUST 3RD FOUND BY THE FDA INSPECTORS. UNIT WAS EMBARGOED AT THIS TIME BY THE IDPH INSPECTOR ON SITE. UNIT HAS A MASSIVE AMOUNT OF ICE BUILD UP ON THE FLOOR WITH THE COMPRESSORS LEAKING ONTO PRODUCTS. UNITS MUST MAINTAIN A TEMPERATURE OF 0F OR BELOW.

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: OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING INSIDE OF WALK-IN FREEZER DESCRIBED IN VIOLATION #2: MEATS, FISH, SEAFOOD ETC. ESTIMATE OF 15,000 LBS OF PRODUCT UNDER EMBARGO BY THE IDPH AT THIS TIME. INSTRUCTED THAT ALL POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS MEATS, FISH AND SEAFOOD MUST BE AT 0F AND BELOW IN WALK-IN FREEZER.

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.

SOURCE OF CROSS CONTAMINATION CONTROLLED I.E. CUTTING BOARDS, FOOD HANDLERS, UTENSILS, ETC - Comments: WATER FROM COMPRESSORS OF WALK-IN COOLERS LEAKING ONTO PRODUCE IN WALK-IN UNITS (TOMATOES, LEMONS, AND PEPPERS); MUST REPAIR COMPRESSORS. INSTRUCTED TO DENATURE FOODS FOUND UNDER THE DRIPPING CONDENSOR UNITS. TWENTY FIVE TWENTY FIVE LB BOXES OF TOMATOES @ $13.00 EACH, FIVE TWENTY LB BOXES OF GREEN PEPPERS @ $16.00 EACH, SEVEN FORTY LB BOXES OF LEMONS @ $22.00 EACH. TOTAL LBS 1005, VALUE $559.

These activities introduce saliva and contaminants into food areas, potentially spreading bacteria and viruses to customers.

Food employees must not eat, drink, or use tobacco in food preparation areas.

Eating, drinking, tobacco use only in designated areas; Closed beverage containers with straw allowed in some areas; Proper tasting using clean utensil each time; No personal items in food prep areas.

NO EVIDENCE OF RODENT OR INSECT INFESTATION, NO BIRDS, TURTLES OR OTHER ANIMALS - Comments: OBSERVED OVER 100 RODENT (RAT) DROPPINGS THROUGHOUT PREMISES ON FLOORS ALONG WALLS, BEHIND AND UNDER PALLETS IN DRY STORAGE AREA WHERE SPICES STORED, SODA, UNDER THREE COMP SINK, ON OUTSIDE DOCK ETC. ALSO NUMEROUS LIVE FLIES THROUGHOUT, LIVE FRUIT FLIES OBSERVED INSIDE OF BAGS OF ONIONS IN STORAGE AREA. MUST CLEAN ALL AFFECTED AREAS AND CONTACT PEST CONTROL COMPANY FOR SERVICE.

Pests carry numerous pathogens including Salmonella, E. coli, and Hantavirus, contaminating food and surfaces.

Facility must be free of pest infestation.

No live pests; No pest droppings, gnaw marks, or nesting; Effective pest control program; Regular monitoring; Professional treatment when needed.

NO EVIDENCE OF RODENT OR INSECT OUTER OPENINGS PROTECTED/RODENT PROOFED, A WRITTEN LOG SHALL BE MAINTAINED AVAILABLE TO THE INSPECTORS - Comments: FRONT AND REAR OVERHEAD DOORS ARE NOT RODENT PROOFED AS REQUIRED TO PREVENT RODENT ENTRY. HOLES NOTED IN LARGE OVERHEAD DOORS IN REAR AT BOTTOM AND MIDDLE OF DOORS. OVERHEAD DOOR AT DOCK HAS TWO LARGE HOLES IN CORNER AREAS OF DOOR AND RUBBER STRIP AT BOTTOM OF DOOR IS WORN. MUST RODENT PROOF ALL DOORS.

Unprotected openings allow pest entry, leading to contamination of food and surfaces.

Building openings must be protected against pest entry.

Doors tight-fitting and self-closing; Windows screened; Openings sealed; Pest control log maintained; Regular monitoring; Professional service when needed.

OUTSIDE GARBAGE WASTE GREASE AND STORAGE AREA; CLEAN, RODENT PROOF, ALL CONTAINERS COVERED - Comments: DISPOSAL AREA OUTSIDE NOT MAINTAINED. DUMPSTERS WERE OVERFLOWING WITH TRASH AND SOME PRODUCE ITEMS SUCH AS BELL PEPPERS AND TOMATOES WERE ON THE GROUND BY THE DUMPSTER. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN AREA AND SCHEDULE MORE FREQUENT PICK UPS.

Poor waste management attracts pests and creates breeding grounds for disease vectors.

Exterior waste areas must be clean and pest-proof.

Dumpsters on cleanable pad; Tight-fitting lids; Area kept clean; Grease containers covered; Regular pickup; No overflow.

FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED - Comments: FLOORS THROUGHOUT NEED DETAIL CLEANING. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN. SEAL HOLES IN FLOORS WHERE NEEDED. ALL ITEMS MUST BE ELEVATED SIX INCHES FROM THE FLOOR AND ITEMS INSIDE OF WALK-IN UNITS. REMOVE ACCESS WATER ON FLOOR OF WALK-IN UNITS 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.

WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS - Comments: VARIOUS AREAS OF WALLS AND CEILINGS IN POOR REPAIR. OBSERVED NUMEROUS HOLES IN WALLS OF STORAGE ROOMS WHERE SODA AND DRY STORAGE LOCATED, MISSING WALL TILES ON WALL IN REAR WHERE LARGE OVERHEAD DOOR LOCATED, MOLD AND DIRT ON FAN GUARD COVERS IN WALK-IN UNITS, ALSO OBSERVED LOOSE AND POOR REPAIR (OPEN SEAMS, HOLES) IN WALLS OF WALK-IN UNITS WHERE PRODUCE AND MEATS STORED. MUST REMOVE MOLD OBSERVED ON CEILINGS OF WALK-IN UNITS WHERE PRODUCE STORED.

Damaged surfaces cannot be properly cleaned and may harbor pests.

Walls and ceilings must be smooth, cleanable, and in good repair.

Smooth, washable surfaces in food areas; Light colored; No holes or cracks; Clean and maintained.

LIGHTING: REQUIRED MINIMUM FOOT-CANDLES OF LIGHT PROVIDED, FIXTURES SHIELDED - Comments: MUST PROVIDE LIGHT SHIELDS FOR ALL LIGHTS IN WALK-IN COOLERS AND STORAGE AREAS WITH PRODUCE. CLEAN BULBS WHERE NEEDED.

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.

TOILET ROOM DOORS SELF CLOSING: DRESSING ROOMS WITH LOCKERS PROVIDED: COMPLETE SEPARATION FROM LIVING/SLEEPING QUARTERS - Comments: WASHROOM DOOR NOT SELF-CLOSING; MUST PROVIDE A SELF-CLOSING DEVICE.

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.

VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED - Comments: MUST REPAIR LEAKING FROM PIPES UNDER THREE COMP SINK. COMPRESSORS OF COOLERS LEAKING WATER ONTO FRUIT AND VEGETABLES IN WALK-IN UNITS; MUST REPAIR. MUST PROVIDE A VENTILATION FAN IN WASHROOM TO ABSORB ODORS. NO MOP SINK ON PREMISES AS REQUIRED; MUST INSTALL A UTILITY SINK FOR THE DISPOSAL OF WASTE WATER WITH HOT AND COLD RUNNING WATER AND A BACKFLOW DEVICE.

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: PROVIDE INTERNAL THERMOMETERS FOR ALL REFRIGERATION UNITS AND FREEZER.

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: PROVIDE INTERNAL THERMOMETERS FOR ALL REFRIGERATION UNITS AND FREEZER.

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.