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AMSTAR

5501 S ASHLAND AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60636 · Grocery Store

Inspection summary

AMSTAR has been inspected 4 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since July 29, 2015. The most recent inspection, on August 13, 2024, recorded 6 infractions.

None of the 4 inspections on record were free of infractions. No inspections are on record from the past 12 months. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Handwashing and staff hygiene and Pests.

Recent inspections have recorded more infractions than earlier ones, so it is worth reading the latest reports closely.

What these findings mean

Health authorities word their violations differently, so we group them by what they mean for food safety. Higher-risk findings are the ones inspectors treat as critical, because they can directly make someone sick.

  • Cleaning and sanitizingHigher risk

    Anything that touches food, such as cutting boards, dishes and utensils, must be washed, rinsed and sanitized. Inspectors check dishwasher temperatures, sanitizer strength and how wiping cloths are stored. Poor sanitizing lets bacteria survive from one use to the next.

    Recorded 4 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on August 13, 2024. For example: NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

  • Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk

    Hands are the main way germs like norovirus move from people to food. Inspectors look for stocked, accessible handwashing sinks, staff washing hands when required, hair restraints, and sick employees being kept away from food. Gaps here can spread illness quickly.

    Recorded 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on August 13, 2024. For example: PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS

  • PestsHigher risk

    Signs of mice, rats, cockroaches or flies, or gaps and clutter that let them get in or hide. Pests carry bacteria and can contaminate food and surfaces, so evidence of activity is treated seriously and usually triggers a follow-up visit.

    Recorded 2 times on August 6, 2024. For example: INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

  • Protecting food from contaminationHigher risk

    This covers how food is stored, prepared and displayed: raw meat kept away from ready-to-eat food, food covered and stored off the floor, and nothing dripping or splashing into it. Cross-contamination from raw to cooked food is a direct route for salmonella and E. coli.

    Recorded once on August 6, 2024. For example: CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

  • Building, plumbing and upkeepLower risk

    Floors, walls and ceilings must be smooth and clean, with working lighting, ventilation, plumbing, hot and cold water, and washrooms. These are rarely an immediate food-safety risk on their own, but persistent problems can lead to pest or sanitation issues.

    Recorded 9 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on August 13, 2024. For example: PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

About this data

These results come from Chicago Department of Public Health, which inspects food premises and other public facilities in this area. We republish the authority's public disclosure data and refresh it regularly; the official record is the final word.

4 inspections

  1. Complaint Re-Inspection

    6 infractions

    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • 2-501.11 Inspector Comments: OBSERVED NO CLEAN-UP POLICY PROCEDURE AND ITEMS FOR VOMITING AND DIARRHEA MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005)
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • 4-101.19 : MUST ELIMINATE CRATES USED FOR FOOD STORAGE ON SALES FLOOR,ALL STORAGE AREAS AND WALK IN COOLER AND PROVIDE ADEQUATE SHELVING UNITS FOR STORAGE.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • 4-601.11(C) : MUST CLEAN FOOD DEBRIS AND DUST BUILD UP FROM SALES FLOOR SHELVING UNITS,COUNTER TOPS UNDER AND SLUSHY MACHINE,COFFEE MACHINE.WALK IN COOLER- FANGUARD COVERS,SHELVING UNITS,POP SLEEVES.DISH WASHING AREA-MOP SINK, 3- COMP SINK, OVERHEAD SHELVING UNIT.STORAGE AREAS & SERVICE COUNTER- ALL SHELVING UNITS.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • 6-201.11 : MUST CLEAN EXCESSIVE SPLATTER AND DIRT FROM WALLS AND CEILINGS ON SALES FLOOR,PREP/DISH WASHING AREA,WALK IN COOLER, TOILET ROOM AND STORAGE AREAS.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • 6-201.13 : MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE STAINED CEILING TILES THROUGHOUT PREMISES,BROKEN FLOOR TILES NEAR REAR DOOR
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • 6-501.13 : MUST CLEAN EXCESSIVE DIRT AND DEBRIS BUILD UP FROM FLOOR UNDER,AROUND,ALONG WALL BASES THROUGHOUT PREMISES,STORAGE,WALK IN COOLER AND WHERE NEEDED.
  2. Complaint

    14 infractions

    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • OBSERVED NO CLEAN-UP POLICY PROCEDURE AND ITEMS FOR VOMITING AND DIARRHEA MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORIRTY FOUNDATION 7-38-005)
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED NO HAND WASHING SIGNS AT HANDS IN PREP/DISH WASHING & TOILET ROOM MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • OBSERVED NO PEST CONTROL LOG BOOK WITH REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO VIEW MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-020(C)(CITATION ISSUED)
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • OBSERVED EVIDENCE OF APPX. 30 OR MORE MICE DROPPINGS ON FLOOR AND SHELVING UNITS IN REAR STORAGE AREA.ALSO. APPX. 8-10 LIVE SMALL FLIES IN DISH WASHING AREA AND APPX. 7-9 LIVE LARGE FLIES IN ADJACENT STORAGE AREA TO DISH WASHING AREA.MUST REMOVE MICE DROPPINGS CLEAN AND SANITIZE AREAS. RECOMMENDED TO HAVE A PEST CONTROL OPERATOR TO SERVICE PREMISES ON OR AFTER 8/6/24.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-020(A)(CITATION ISSUED)
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • MUST PROVIDE A SPLASH GUARD AT HAND SINK NEXT TO 3- COMPARTMENT SINK.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • MUST ELIMINATE CRATES USED FOR FOOD STORAGE ON SALES FLOOR,ALL STORAGE AREAS AND WALK IN COOLER AND PROVIDE ADEQUATE SHELVING UNITS FOR STORAGE.
    • 48. WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS
      • OBSERVED FAUCET AT 3- COMPARTMENT SINK NOT LONG ENOUGH TO REACH FAR RIGHT & LEFT COMPARTMENTS.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-025)(CITATION ISSUED)
    • 48. WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS
      • OBSERVED NO CHEMICAL TEST KIT TO CHECK SANITIZING SOLUTION PPM'S AT 3- COMPARTMENT SINK MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005)(CITATION ISSUED)
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • MUST CLEAN FOOD DEBRIS AND DUST BUILD UP FROM SALES FLOOR SHELVING UNITS,COUNTER TOPS UNDER AND SLUSHY MACHINE,COFFEE MACHINE.WALK IN COOLER- FANGUARD COVERS,SHELVING UNITS,POP SLEEVES.DISH WASHING AREA-MOP SINK, 3- COMP SINK, OVERHEAD SHELVING UNIT.STORAGE AREAS & SERVICE COUNTER- ALL SHELVING UNITS.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE STRIPPED COLD WATER FAUCET HANDLE AT HAND SINK IN DISH WASHING AREA.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • MUST CLEAN EXCESSIVE SPLATTER AND DIRT FROM WALLS AND CEILINGS ON SALES FLOOR,PREP/DISH WASHING AREA,WALK IN COOLER, TOILET ROOM AND STORAGE AREAS.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE STAINED CEILING TILES THROUGHOUT PREMISES,BROKEN FLOOR TILES NEAR REAR DOOR.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • MUST CLEAN EXCESSIVE DIRT AND DEBRIS BUILD UP FROM FLOOR UNDER,AROUND,ALONG WALL BASES THROUGHOUT PREMISES,STORAGE,WALK IN COOLER AND WHERE NEEDED.
    • 61. SUMMARY REPORT DISPLAYED AND VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC
      • OBSERVED NO SUMMARY REPORT DISPLAYED AND VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC TO VIEW. A NEW SUMMARY WAS POSTED AT THIS TIME. (PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-42-010(b)(CITATION ISSUED)
  3. License Re-Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • SOILED CHIP TRAYS ON SITE. REPLACE SAME.
  4. License

    6 infractions

    • 11. ADEQUATE NUMBER, CONVENIENT, ACCESSIBLE, DESIGNED, AND MAINTAINED
      • NO EXPOSED HANDSINK AT FRONT PREP AREA/BEVERAGE STATION WHERE COFFEE AND ICEE MACHINES LOCATED. INSTD TO PROVIDE SAME.
    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • SOILED CHIP TRAYS ON SITE. REPLACE SAME. RUSTY SURFACE AT EXTERIOR OF GREASE TRAP. REMOVE RUST/PAINT SAME.
    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • FLOOR IN CORNERS, ALONG WALLBASE, AND UNDER PALLETS IN STORAGE ROOMS NOT CLEAN, DEBROS. CLEAN SAME AND MAINTAIN.
    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • CLEAN WALLS THROUGH OUT IN REAR AND IN TOILET ROOM.
    • 36. LIGHTING: REQUIRED MINIMUM FOOT-CANDLES OF LIGHT PROVIDED, FIXTURES SHIELDED
      • REPLACE LIGHTSHIELD FOR LIGHTS IN WALK-IN COOLER.
    • 41. PREMISES MAINTAINED FREE OF LITTER, UNNECESSARY ARTICLES, CLEANING EQUIPMENT PROPERLY STORED
      • CLUTTER IN STORAGE ROOMS. STOCK ON FLOOR IN SAME AREA. INSTD TO REMOVE CLUTTER AND ELEVATE STOCK 6 INCHES.

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