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COTTAGE GROVE MEAT & GROCERY, INC

7458 S COTTAGE GROVE AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60619 · Grocery Store

Inspection summary

COTTAGE GROVE MEAT & GROCERY, INC has been inspected 5 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since February 20, 2014. The most recent inspection, on November 4, 2024, recorded 5 infractions.

None of the 5 inspections on record were free of infractions. No inspections are on record from the past 12 months. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Handwashing and staff hygiene, Cleaning and sanitizing 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.

  • 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 November 4, 2024. For example: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

  • 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 2 times on August 2, 2021. For example: NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

  • 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 once on November 4, 2024. For example: INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

  • 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 5 separate inspections, most recently on November 4, 2024. For example: PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

  • 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 9 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on August 2, 2021. For example: FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

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.

5 inspections

  1. Complaint

    5 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • NO HAND WASHING SIGNAGE AT THE DESIGNATED HAND WASHING SINKS IN THE PREP AND TOILET ROOM AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE SIGNAGE TO ALL SINKS AND MAINTAIN.
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • FLY STRIP IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 40. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
      • FOOD HANDLERS AND EMPLOYEES NOT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINTS WHILE IN THE FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO WEAR A HAIR RESTRAINT AND MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • FLOORS IN THE REAR CLOSET, CORNERS AND UNDER/AROUND HEAVY EQUIPMENT WITH DIRT AND DEBRIS. INTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOORS.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • WATER STAINED CEILING TILES IN THE REAR FOOD PREP/STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE CEILING TILES AND MAINTAIN.
  2. Canvass

    10 infractions

    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED ICE MACHINE OPENING OF DOOR AND SIDES OF MACHINE WITH A BUILD UP OF DUST. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN, SANITIZE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED FOOD DEBRIS BUILD UP INSIDE COOLER BETWEEN THE PEPSI AND COCA COLA SODA MACHINES. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • OBSERVED INSIDE OF MEAT COOLER RACKS, REMOVE TAPE AND REPAIR GLASS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN, REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • OBSERVED SPILLS INSIDE OF THREE DOOR FREEZER. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED FLOORS UNDER AND AROUND SHELVING UNITS AND WINDOW EDGES THROUGHOUT FACILITY WITH A BUILD UP OF DUST AND DIRT. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN, SANITIZE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED CEILING TILES IN REAR PREP AREA STAINED FROM WATER DAMAGE. OBSERVED FLOOR IN FRONT SERVICE AREA JUST RIGHT OF HAND SINK ALONG WALL MISSING FLOORING. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN AS A MEANS OF PREVENTING PEST AND INSECT HARBORING.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED CLUTTER IN REAR NEAR MEAT COOLER AND NEAR WATER HEATER. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE AND MAINTAIN. OBSERVED SODA CRATES BEING USED TO STORE ITEMS TRHOUGHOUT FACILITY, INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE AND PROVIDE PROPER SHELVING.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • OBSERVED LIGHT OUT IN REAR ABOVE MEAT SERVICE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • OBSERVED A EMPLOYEE WITHOUT THE FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATION. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN AND PROVIDE ON SITE.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE ON SITE FOR CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS. INFORMED MANAGER THAT ALL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS ARE TO OBTAIN. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN AND PROVIDE PROOF OF TRAINING ON SITE.
  3. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • ONE FAN IN THE COOLER ON THE SELLING FLOOR STORING PACKAGED DELI MEATS IS MISSING A COVER; MUST REPLACE COVER FOR THE FAN INSIDE OF THE COOLER. OBSERVED RUST ON THE BOTTOM OF THE MEAT DISPLAY CASE IN THE BOTTOM STORAGE AREA; REMOVE RUST OBSERVED AT BOTTOM OF THE CASE.
    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • CLEAN BOTTOM AREA OF TWO DOOR FREEZER IN THE BUTCHER AREA STORING MEATS.
    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • CLEAN FLOOR BY SODA NEAR THE WINDOW.
  4. Canvass

    5 infractions

    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • OBSERVED BROKEN DOOR GASKET ON DEEP FREEZER IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • OBSERVED DIRT AND DEBRIS ON KNIFE RACK, INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • OBSERVED DIRTY FLOORS THROUGHOUT PREMISES, FRONT, REAR PREP AND STAFF TOILET ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • OBSERVED STAINED CEILING TILES IN THE REAR PREP AREA, INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR/REPLACE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 41. PREMISES MAINTAINED FREE OF LITTER, UNNECESSARY ARTICLES, CLEANING EQUIPMENT PROPERLY STORED
      • OBSERVED CLUTTER IN REAR STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ITEMS SIX INCHES OFF FLOOR TO PREVENT RODENT HARBORAGE. MAINTAIN SAME.
  5. License

    2 infractions

    • 36. LIGHTING: REQUIRED MINIMUM FOOT-CANDLES OF LIGHT PROVIDED, FIXTURES SHIELDED
      • MUST PROVIDE LIGHT SHIELD COVERS INSIDE THE FRESH MEAT DISPLAY COUNTER
    • 38. VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED
      • MUST PROVIDE A BACKFLOW DEVICE ON THE MOP SINK IN REAR OF PREMISES

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