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EMECHE CAKERY & CAFE

3453 S PRAIRIE AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60616 · Bakery

Inspection summary

EMECHE CAKERY & CAFE has been inspected 6 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since March 13, 2019. The most recent inspection, on August 16, 2024, found no infractions.

3 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, Handwashing and staff hygiene and Cleaning and sanitizing.

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 once on June 20, 2023. For example: FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

  • 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 once on September 1, 2020. For example: PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

  • 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 September 1, 2020. For example: WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

  • 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 4 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on June 20, 2023. For example: PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

  • Food safety training and certificationLower risk

    Most jurisdictions require a certified food handler or manager on site, and some require allergen or food-worker training. These findings mean the paperwork or the trained person was missing at the time. They do not by themselves mean food was handled unsafely.

    Recorded 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on June 20, 2023. For example: ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

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

    0 infractions

  2. Complaint

    4 infractions

    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • OBSERVED ONE BULK STORAGE CONTAINER IN THE KITCHEN AREA NOT LABELED; INSTRUCTED TO LABEL CONTAINER BETWEEN THE STOVE AND PREP COOLER.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • OBSERVED THE MOP SINK IN THE REAR STORAGE CLOSET LEAKING FROM THE PIPE; INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR. OBSERVED A MISSING COLD WATER FAUCET KNOB AT THE EXPOSED HAND SINK IN THE FRONT SERVING AREA; INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN THE FLOOR IN KITCHEN AREA AND FRONT SERVING AREA UNDER AROUND AND BEHIND EQUIPMENT WHERE NEEDED. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN THE CEILING VENTS IN THE KITCHEN AND WASHROOMS TO REMOVE LIGHT DUST OBSERVED.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • INSTRUCTED THAT ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST HAVE THE REQUIRED FOOD HANDLER TRAINING AND THAT CERTIFICATES MUST BE PRINTED OUT AND KEPT IN A FILE FOR REVIEW.
  3. Complaint

    3 infractions

    • 40. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
      • FOUND EMPLOYEES IN THE FOOD PREP AREAS AND HANDLING FOOD NOT WEARING A HAIR RESTRAINT. INSTRUCTED TO HAVE ALL EMPLOYEES TO WEAR A HAIR RESTRAINT WHEN IN THE PREP AREA AND WHEN HANDLING FOOD. MAINTAIN SAME.
    • 41. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED
      • FOUND WIPING CLOTHS NOT PROPERLY STORED WHEN NOT IN USE. INSTRUCTED TO STORE IN SANITIZING SOLUTION (MUST BE AT THE REQUIRED PPM) WHEN NOT IN USE.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • DRY STORAGE AREA IN THE DINING ROOM IS CLUTTERED. INSTRUCTED TO ELIMINATE CLUTTER AND ORGANIZE THE AREA. MAINTAIN CLUTTER FREE AREAS.
  4. License

    3 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY COMPLETED/SIGNED ON PREMISES AS REQUIRED; MUST PROVIDE. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION OF EMPLOYEES RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT ANY ILLNESS TRANSMISSIBLE THROUGH FOOD. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • FOUND NO BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE ON THE UTILITY SINK; MUST INSTALL.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE THAT ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST OBTAIN THE REQUIRED FOOD HANDLER TRAINING.
  5. License

    0 infractions

  6. License

    0 infractions

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