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ECUADORIAN GUSS BAKERY

3658 W LAWRENCE AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60625 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

ECUADORIAN GUSS BAKERY has been inspected 5 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since December 22, 2023. The most recent inspection, on August 27, 2025, recorded 5 infractions.

1 of 5 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: Food source, labelling and allergens, Food temperature control and Handwashing and staff hygiene.

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.

  • 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 3 times on May 3, 2024. For example: PROPER DATE MARKING AND DISPOSITION

  • Food temperature controlHigher risk

    Bacteria multiply fastest between about 4 °C and 60 °C (40 °F to 140 °F). Inspectors check that cold food stays cold, hot food stays hot, cooked food is cooled quickly, and that staff have accurate thermometers. Temperature problems are one of the most common causes of food poisoning, so these are treated as critical findings.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on May 14, 2024. For example: THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

  • 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 across 2 separate inspections, most recently on May 3, 2024. For example: PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

  • 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 27, 2025. For example: CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

  • 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 May 3, 2024. For example: INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

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. Canvass

    5 infractions

    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • MUST INSTALL SPLASH GUARDS ON THE LEFT SIDES OF THE COFFEE STATION HAND SINK AND THE REAR PREP HAND SINK BETWEEN THE SINKS AND STORED FOODS AND CLEAN UTENSILS.-----MUST NOT STORE CLEAN POTS/PANS/UTENSILS HANGING ABOVE THE WASHBASIN OF THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK.
    • 43. IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED
      • MUST NOT STORE THE ICE CREAM SCOOP INSIDE THE ICE CREAM WITH HANDLE IN ICE CREAM. MUST PROPERLY STORE IN THE DIPPER WELL.
    • 45. SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED
      • ALL STORED ITEMS THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY INCLUDING THE BASEMENT STORAGE ROOM AND THE HALLWAY ENTRANCE TO THE BASEMENT MUST BE ELEVATED FROM THE FLOORS.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • MUST REMOVE THE DEAD MOUSE ON THE GLUE BOARD IN THE FRONT ICE CREAM PREP CLOSET.----BLACKENED, MOLDY WALL CAULKING AT THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK MUST BE REPLACED.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • NOTED EMPLOYEE ON SITE WITHOUT FOOD HANDLER TRAINING OR CERTIFICATE. MUST PROVIDE FOR ALL REQUIRED EMPLOYEES.
  2. Canvass Re-Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 36. THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
      • 4-204.112(B)--OBSERVED NO THERMOMETER INSIDE THE KITCHEN 4-DOOR PREP LINE COOLER.INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN A VISIBLE ACCURATE,WORKING THERMOMETER INSIDE SAID COOLER.
  3. Canvass

    12 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • OBSERVED NO WRITTEN EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY FOR ALL EMPLOYEES ON THE PREMISES.INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A SIGNED EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY FOR EACH EMPLOYEE AND MAINTAIN AS REQUIRED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010,CITATION ISSUED.
    • 23. PROPER DATE MARKING AND DISPOSITION
      • OBSERVED READY-TO-EAT, (TCS FOODS) HELD FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS (COOKED CHICKEN,COOKED BEEF ETC) NOT DATE MARKED TO INDICATE THE DATE IN WHICH THE FOOD MUST BE CONSUMED OR DISCARDED.INSTRUCTED TO DATE MARK ALL READY-TO-EAT, TCS FOODS HELD MORE THAN 24 HOURS.PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005,CITATION ISSUED.
    • 36. THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
      • OBSERVED NO THERMOMETER INSIDE THE KITCHEN 4-DOOR PREP LINE COOLER.INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN A VISIBLE ACCURATE,WORKING THERMOMETER INSIDE SAID COOLER.
    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • OBSERVED PACKAGED DESSERTS NOT PROPERLY LABELED IN THE PREP COOLER.INSTRUCTED TO LABEL ALL DESSERTS WITH COMMON NAME, NAME OF MANUFACTURER AND ADDRESS, INGREDIENTS, NET CONTENTS, ETC.
    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • OBSERVED BULK CONTAINERS IN THE KITCHEN PREP AREA WITHOUT LABELS.INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE THE COMMON NAME ON ALL BULK CONTAINERS TO PROPERLY IDENTIFY ITEM (SALT, SUGAR, FLOUR ETC).
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • OBSERVED EVIDENCE OF PEST ACTIVITY ON THE PREMISES.OBSERVED APPROX.50 RAT DROPPINGS ON THE FLOOR IN THE CORNER UNDER AROUND CLUTTERED UNUSED EQUIPMENTS AND TABLES IN THE REAR OF THE BASEMENT STORAGE AREAS.INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND SANITIZE AND REMOVE ALL RODENT DROPPINGS FROM ALL AFFECTED AREAS.ADDITIONAL PEST CONTROL SERVICE IS NEEDED TO ELIMINATE THE PEST ACTIVITY. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(A),CITATION ISSUED.
    • 40. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
      • OBSERVED FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES PREPARING FOOD WITHOUT WEARING A HAIR RESTRAINT.INSTRUCTED THAT ALL FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES MUST WEAR A HAIR RESTRAINTS WHILE PREPARING FOODS.
    • 44. UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED
      • INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY STORE AND INVERT MULTI-USE POTS,PANS ON THE KITCHEN STORAGE RACKS TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION BEFORE USE (HANDLES-UP).
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED FROZEN MEATS STORED IN PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS IN THE FREEZER.INSTRUCTED TO USE ONLY FOOD GRADE STORAGE BAGS OR CONTAINERS AND MAINTAIN.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • OBSERVED NO SELF-CLOSING DOOR DEVICE ON THE WASHROOM DOORS.INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL A SELF-CLOSING DOOR DEVICE ON BOTH WASHROOM DOORS AND MAINTAIN.
    • 54. GARBAGE & REFUSE PROPERLY DISPOSED; FACILITIES MAINTAINED
      • OBSERVED OUTSIDE GARBAGE DUMPSTER OVERFLOWING WITH TRASH AND LID NOT TIGHT FITTING.INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN OUTSIDE GARBAGE AREA AT ALL TIMES AND LIDS/COVER MUST BE KEPT TIGHT FITTING TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE.PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020 (b),CITATION ISSUED.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND ORGANIZE BASEMENT STORAGE AREAS AND REMOVE UNNECESSARY ITEMS AND LITTER AND UNUSUED EQUIPMENTS ETC.. DUE TO POTENTIAL PEST HARBORAGE AND MAINTAIN.
  4. License Re-Inspection

    0 infractions

  5. License

    2 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED BAKERY PREP/ SERVICE AREA WITHOUT EASY ACCESS TO HAND WASHING SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO INSTALL HANDWASHING SINK TO ALLOW FOR EASY ACCESS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-030(C) NO CITATION ISSUED.
    • 48. WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS
      • OBSERVED 3-COMPARTMENT SINK NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. DRAIN STOPPERS DO NOT STOP WATER, AND SINK COMPARTMENTS CAN NOT BE FILLED UP FOR ADEQUATE DISHWASHING. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR DRAIN STOPPERS OR TO PROVIDE NEW ADEQUATE DRAIN STOPPERS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-025 NO CITATION ISSUED.

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