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HANDCUT FOODS

1441 W WILLOW ST, CHICAGO, IL 60642 · Restaurant (Catering)

Inspection summary

HANDCUT FOODS has been inspected 8 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since May 27, 2015. The most recent inspection, on June 22, 2023, 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: Cleaning and sanitizing, Food temperature control and Food source, labelling and allergens.

The number of infractions per inspection has stayed roughly the same over time.

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.

  • 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 23, 2019. For example: FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED

  • 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 August 23, 2019. For example: PROPER HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURES

  • 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 April 26, 2022. 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 August 14, 2018. 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on April 26, 2022. For example: PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

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. Complaint

    2 infractions

    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • OBSERVED CONTAINERS OF FOOD INGREDIENTS THROUGHOUT PREMISES WITHOUT LABELS. ALL INGREDIENTS/FOODS MUST BE LABELED WITH COMMON NAME IF NOT STORED IN ORIGINAL PACKAGING.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • COLD WATER PUSH BUTTON STUCK NOT ALLOWING FOR PROPER WATER FLOW. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN PUSH BUTTON.
  3. Canvass

    0 infractions

  4. Canvass

    5 infractions

    • 16. FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
      • OBSERVED FOOD DEBRIS AND FOOD SPILLS ON THE SURFACES OF THE PREP TABLES AND INSIDE OF THE TILT SKILLET. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND SANITIZE.
    • 21. PROPER HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURES
      • OBSERVED TCS FOOD AT IMPROPER HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURE ON THE HOT HOLDING SERVING LINE. (CHICKEN 121.8 DEGREE F). INSTRUCTED THAT HOT HOLDING IS 135 DEGREE F OR ABOVE. MANAGER VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED SAID FOOD PRODUCT. APPROX 3 LBS FOOD AND $30 VALUE. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
    • 44. UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED
      • OBSERVED POTS, PANS, AND BOWLS STORED IMPROPERLY ON THE EQUIPMENT STORAGE SHELF. INSTRUCTED THAT EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE STORED INVERTED TO ENSURE PROPER AIR DRYING.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • OBSERVED THE EXTERIOR OF THE COOKING EQUIPMENT ENCASED WITH GREASE, FOOD DEBRIS, AND FOOD SPILLAGE. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED THE FLOORS THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY, ALONG THE BASEBOARDS AND IN BETWEEN THE COOKING EQUIPMENT WITH GREASE, DIRT, DUST, AND FOOD DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
  5. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO COMPLY WITH THE NEW CODES OR CITATIONS WILL FOLLOW. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #2-201.11.
    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • PREMISES HAS NO CLEAN UP PROCEDURES FOR VOMITING OR DIARRHEA EVENTS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO COMPLY WITH THE NEW CODES OR CITATIONS WILL FOLLOW.
  6. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 3. POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD MEETS TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENT DURING STORAGE, PREPARATION DISPLAY AND SERVICE
      • OBSERVED POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURE INSIDE OF THE WALK-IN COOLER. OBSERVED QUINOA CHILI IN A DEEP CONTAINER (GREATER THAN 4" HIGH) WITH A TEMPERATURE OF 44.2F. MANAGEMENT VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED APPROXIMATELY 15 GALLONS OF FOOD WORTH $84. CRITICAL VIOLATION 7-38-005A.
  7. Canvass

    0 infractions

  8. License

    1 infraction

    • 38. VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED
      • CONDENSATION FROM THE WALK-IN FREEZER/WALK-IN COOLER CREATING POOLING WATER ALONG THE BASEBOARD IN THE ADJACENT WALK-IN DRY STORAGE ROOM. MUST REPAIR/PREVENT CONDENSATION AND POOLING WATER.

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