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EL MERCADO FOOD MART, LLC

3767 N SOUTHPORT AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60613 · Grocery Store

Inspection summary

EL MERCADO FOOD MART, LLC has been inspected 6 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since May 31, 2018. The most recent inspection, on May 5, 2025, recorded 2 infractions.

1 of 6 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, Protecting food from contamination and Handwashing and staff hygiene.

Recent inspections have recorded fewer infractions than earlier ones, so the record is improving.

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 across 3 separate inspections, most recently on May 5, 2025. For example: FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

  • 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on December 17, 2024. For example: CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

  • 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 May 22, 2020. For example: PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS

  • 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 5 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on May 5, 2025. For example: PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

  • 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 4 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on November 3, 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.

6 inspections

  1. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • NOTED FOOD LABELS MISSING ON PREP PACKAGED DESSERTS STORED IN FRONT 2-DOOR REACH-IN REFRIGERATOR. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE NAME ON FOOD, NET QUALITY, INGREDIENTS LIST, MAJOR FOODS ALLERGEN, BUSINESS NAME AND ADDRESS.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • ADDITIONAL WATER PRESSURE NEEDED IN FRONT COUNTER AREA. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
  2. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • OBSERVED CRATES AND BOXES OF FOOD ITEMS STORED ON THE FLOOR IN THE WALK IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SHELVING TO ELEVATE ALL ITEMS AT LEAST 6 INCHES OFF THE FLOOR.
  3. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • NOTED ICE BUILD-UP INSIDE THE CHEST FREEZER AT THE BASEMENT FOOD/DRY STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO DEFROST, CLEAN, AND MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • NOTED CLUTTER BASEMENT FOOD/DRY STORAGE AREA ON SHELVES AND INSIDE THE DRY STORAGE ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL, CLEAN, ORGANIZE AND REMOVE ALL UNNECESSARY OR UNUSED ARTICLES AND EQUIPMENT TO PREVENT HIDING PLACES FOR PESTS.
  4. Canvass

    5 infractions

    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • OBSERVED SUPPLIES MISSING FROM VOMIT AND DIARRHEA KIT INCLUDING DISINFECTANT AGAINST NOROVIRUS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ALL NECESSARY SUPPLIES AS OUTLINED IN POLICY. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. 7-38-005.
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED NO HAND WASHING SINK CONVENIENTLY LOCATED AT FRONT REGISTER AREA WHERE EMPANADAS ARE BEING SERVED FROM HOT HOLDING UNIT. MUST INSTALL HAND SINK FOR EMPLOYEES TO CONVENIENTLY WASH HANDS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. 7-38-030(C).
    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • OBSERVED FOOD LABELS MISSING ON PACKAGED DESSERTS AND FROZEN ITEMS IN COOLERS IN MAIN CUSTOMER AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE NAME OF FOOD, NET QUANTITY, INGRIDIENT LIST, MAJOR FOOD ALLERGEN, BUSINESS NAME AND ADDRESS.
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • OBSERVED FOOD CONTAINER BUCKETS ON FLOOR IN WALK IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED TO ELEVATE OFF FLOOR TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • OBSERVED NO SELF CLOSING DEVICE ON BATHROOM DOOR IN BASEMENT. MUST INSTALL.
  5. License Re-Inspection

    0 infractions

  6. License

    8 infractions

    • 11. ADEQUATE NUMBER, CONVENIENT, ACCESSIBLE, DESIGNED, AND MAINTAINED
      • NO WASH ROOM INSTALLED AT GROCERY STORE. MUST INSTALL A WASHROOM AT SAID GROCERY STORE. MUST INSTALL UNDER CITY PLUMBING CODE. CRITICAL VIOLATION:7-38-030
    • 26. ADEQUATE NUMBER, CONVENIENT, ACCESSIBLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED AND INSTALLED
      • NO THREE COMPARTMENT SINK INSTALLED AT BUTCHER'S AREA,INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL.COMPARTMENT SINKS MUST BE LARGE ENOUGH TO IMMERSE THE LARGEST UTENSILS OR EQUIPMENT SERIOUS VIOLATION:7-38-030
    • 30. FOOD IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED
      • PROVIDED LABELS ON REPACKED FOOD:SOURCE AND INGREDIENTS.
    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • BROKEN RUBBER GASKET AT INTERIOR DOOR OF BUTCHER'S COOLER,REPLACE
    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • WOOD FLOOR AND BROKEN FLOOR TILES IN BUTCHER'S AREA,INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE SAID FLOOR TILES AND INSTALL FLOOR TILES.SURFACE MUST BE SMOOTH,CLEANABLE AND NON-ABSORBENT SURFACE. NO BASEBOARD PROVIDED AT BUTCHER'S PREP AREA BETWEEN FLOOR AND WALL.
    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • SEAL OPENING ON WALL UNDER ONE COMPARTMENT SINK AND ON CEILING ABOVE THE SAUSAGE UNIT. REMOVE DEBRIS FROM WALLS.
    • 36. LIGHTING: REQUIRED MINIMUM FOOT-CANDLES OF LIGHT PROVIDED, FIXTURES SHIELDED
      • NO END CAPS ON LIGHT SHIELDS ABOVE PREP AREA ON BUTCHER'S AREA.REPLACE.
    • 38. VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED
      • NO MOP SINK INSTALLED ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. A BACK FLOW PREVENTION DEVICE IS NEEDED AT SAID SINK

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