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COSTA VIDA

218 W LAKE ST, CHICAGO, IL 60606 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

COSTA VIDA has been inspected 8 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since June 29, 2015. The most recent inspection, on April 23, 2020, found no infractions.

3 of 8 inspections on record found no infractions at all. No inspections are on record from the past 12 months. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Handwashing and staff hygiene, Food source, labelling and allergens and Protecting food from contamination.

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.

  • 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 2 times on October 15, 2019. For example: PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS

  • Food source, labelling and allergensHigher risk

    Food must come from approved suppliers, stay in labelled containers and be thrown out when it is spoiled or damaged, such as dented or swollen cans. Labelling matters for allergies: an unlabelled container can hide an allergen.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on October 15, 2019. For example: PROPER DATE MARKING AND DISPOSITION

  • 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 October 15, 2019. For example: CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

  • 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 once on October 15, 2019. For example: WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

  • Equipment and utensilsLower risk

    Equipment has to be built from cleanable materials, kept in good repair and stored properly. These findings are mostly about upkeep, like a cracked shelf, a worn gasket or utensils stored the wrong way. They are generally lower risk but show how well the kitchen is maintained.

    Recorded 5 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on October 15, 2019. For example: IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED

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.

8 inspections

  1. Canvass

    0 infractions

  2. Canvass

    11 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • OBSERVED NO EMPLOYEES HEALTH POLICY.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION-7-38.010-NO CITATION ISSUED)
    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • OBSERVED NO CLEAN-UP OF VOMITING AND DIARRHEA PROCEDURE AND CLEAN-UP KIT ON PREMISES DURING INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO HAVE SAID PROCEDURE ALONG WITH REQUIRED EQUIPMENT FOR CLEAN-UP. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. NO CITATION ISSUED. 7-38-005
    • 23. PROPER DATE MARKING AND DISPOSITION
      • OBSERVED THAT COOK-CHILL PRODUCTS ARE LABELED PROPERLY BUT COLD HELD TCS ITEMS STORED IN REFRIGERATOR LONGER THAN 24 HOURS.INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PROPER DATE MARKING WITH DISPOSITION DATE FOR RTE FOODS PREPARED ON SITE AND HELD OVER 24 HOURS IN COLD HOLDING UNIT. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. NO CITATION ISSUED. 7-38-005
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • EMPTY FOOD CONTAINERS STORED ON FLOOR IN DISH WASHING AREA AND UNDER 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. MUST PROVIDE PROPER, RAISED SHELVING TO STORE FOOD CONTAINERS 6" OFF FLOOR.
    • 40. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
      • MUST REMOVE ALL JEWELRY EXCEPT PLAIN WEDDING BAND FROM HANDS WHILE WORKING WITH EXPOSED FOOD
    • 43. IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED
      • DURING INSPECTION OBSERVED SEVERAL FOOD SCOOPS TO BE STORED INSIDE FOOD WITH HANDLE TOUCHING FOOD.MUST STORED UTENSILS UNDER RUNNING COLD WATER, UNDER HOT WATER (135 F AND ABOVE),IN FOOD HANDLE NOT TOUCHING FOOD AND IN CLEAN PLACE PROTECTED FROM CONTAMINATION.
    • 48. WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS
      • OBSERVED COOKING POTS USED FOR SOUP COOKING TO BE BIGGER THAN 3 COMPARTMENT SINK(OR DISH MACHINE) AND CANT BE SUBMERGED IN WASH WATER IN SINK.MUST PROVIDE WRITTEN CLEANING PROCEDURE FOR EACH SEPARATE PIECE OF FOOD-CONTACT EQUIPMENT WITH DESCRIPTION HOW TO BE CLEANED IN PLACE.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICES NOT LOCATED AT REAR ICE MACHINE AND FRONT ICE/SODA MACHINE. MUST INSTALL SO BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICES OR AIR GAP BETWEEN THE WATER SUPPLY INLET AND THE UNIT SO IT MAY BE LOCATED TO BE SERVICED AND MAINTAINED.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN CLEAN FOOD DEBRIS BUILD UP FROM FLOOR IN PREP AND DISH WASHING AREAS.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • OBSERVED NO CURRENT FOOD HANDLER'S TRAINING CERTIFICATION FOR ALL EMPLOYEES ON SITE. INSTRUCTED THAT ALL EMPLOYEE'S MUST COMPLY WITH FOOD HANDLER'S TRAINING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOOD HANDLING REGULATION ENFORCEMENT ACT.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • RISK ASSESSMENT REVIEWED AND REMAINS UNCHANGED. A 90 DAY GRACE PERIOD WAS GIVEN FOR ALL NEW PRIORITY AND PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATIONS. CITATIONS WILL BE ISSUED ON THE NEXT INSPECTION AFTER THE 90 DAY GRACE PERIOD FOR THESE VIOLATIONS
  3. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 38. VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED
      • LEAKY FAUCET AT 3- COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR.
  4. Complaint

    2 infractions

    • 30. FOOD IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED
      • Observed several bulk food items without proper label. Must label all bulk foods with name. Must maintain same.
    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • Observed water leaking from front of ice machine in rear prep area. Must repair. Must keep floors clean and dry at all times to prevent pest harborage. Must maintain same.
  5. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • Found small amount of dust in the upper interior of ice machine. Must remove, detail clean and sanitarian.
  6. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 11. ADEQUATE NUMBER, CONVENIENT, ACCESSIBLE, DESIGNED, AND MAINTAINED
      • DURING INSPECTION OBSERVED EXPOSED HAND SINK BY WALK IN COOLER IN REAR PREP AREA WHERE FOOD HANDLERS PREPING FOODS NOT CONVENIENT ,ACCESSIBLE FOR FOOD HANDLERS TO WASH THERE HANDS,IE(COMPLETLY BLOCKED BY A LARGE YELLOW PLASTIC BARREL FILLED WITH ICE AND WATER) THAT MANAGER STATES USED TO COOL MEATS.INSTRUCTED MANAGER THAT EXPOSED HAND WASHING SINK IS ALWAYS TO BE ACCESSIBLE,NOT BLOCKED,NOTHING IN,ON OR IN FRONT OF SINK.MANAGER MOVED BARREL FROM HAND SINK TO ANOTHER AREA ,CDI. CRITICAL VIOLATION ISSUED 7-38-030.
    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • OBSERVED ALL DRY BULK STORAGE BINS NOT LABELED.MUST LABLE.
    • 41. PREMISES MAINTAINED FREE OF LITTER, UNNECESSARY ARTICLES, CLEANING EQUIPMENT PROPERLY STORED
      • OBSERVED CLEANING EQUIPMENT,(DUST PANS) STORED DIRTY,(DEBRIS,FOOD DEBRIS).MUST CLEAN BEFORE STORING CLEANING EQUOPMENT.
  7. License

    0 infractions

  8. License

    0 infractions

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