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HARVEST FOOD

4949 N ELSTON AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60630 · Grocery Store

Inspection summary

HARVEST FOOD has been inspected 4 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since August 28, 2023. The most recent inspection, on April 11, 2025, found no infractions.

3 of 4 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: Handwashing and staff hygiene, Cleaning and sanitizing and Food temperature control.

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 6 times on May 28, 2024. For example: PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS

  • 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 May 28, 2024. 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 on May 28, 2024. For example: THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

  • 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 2 times on May 28, 2024. For example: INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

  • 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 on May 28, 2024. For example: CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

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.

4 inspections

  1. Canvass

    0 infractions

  2. Canvass

    23 infractions

    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • OBSERVED NO CERTIFIED MANAGER ON SITE WHILE TCS ITEMS SUCH AS GROUND MEAT WERE PREPARED. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN AN EMPLOYEE HOLDING A VALID CITY OF CHICAGO FOODSERVICE MANAGER CERTIFICATE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • OBSERVED NO VERIFIABLE EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. LEFT TEMPLATE AND INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN COPIES OF EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY SIGNED BY ALL EMPLOYEES ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • OBSERVED NO KIT AND PROCEDURE ON SITE FOR RESPONDING TO VOMIT AND DIARRHEA. LEFT ONE PAGER AND INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN PROCEDURE AND KIT CONTAINING ALL NECESSARY SUPPLIES INCLUDING A SANITIZER RATED AS EFFECTIVE AGAINST NOROVIRUS ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED BOTH WASHBOWL SINKS IN BOTH TOILET ROOMS MAINTAINING IMPROPER MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES. WASHBOWL IN MAIN TOILET ROOM MAINTAINING AN IMPROPER MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 72.8F AND WASHBOWL IN OFFICE TOILET ROOM MAINTAINING AN IMPROPER MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 72.3F. INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT BOTH SINKS AND MAINTAIN THEM AT ACCEPTABLE RANGES BETWEEN 100-120F AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED 2 PREP AREAS (REAR BREAD PREP AREA WITH 3 COMPARTMENT SINK AND OTHER DOUGH PREP AREA ON SOUTHSIDE OF BUILDING) WITHOUT EXPOSED HANDWASHING SINKS. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL SINKS FULLY SUPPLIED AND CAPABLE OF DELIVERING HOT AND COLD RUNNING WATER UNDER PRESSURE.PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED NO SOAP AT EXPOSED HANDWASHING SINK IN LARGE MEAT PREP ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN SOAP AT ALL EXPOSED HANDWASHING SINKS AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-030(C). CITATION COMBINED WITH ABOVE VIOLATION.
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED NO PAPER TOWELS AT EXPOSED HANDWASHING SINKS LOCATED IN LARGE AND SMALL MEAT PREP ROOMS. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN PAPER TOWELS AT ALL EXPOSED HANDWASHING SINKS AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-030(C). CITATION COMBINED WITH ABOVE VIOLATION.
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT WASHBOWL SINKS LOCATED IN TOILET ROOMS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
    • 16. FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
      • OBSERVED NO SANITIZER ON SITE FOR SANITIZING DISHES. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN SANITIZER ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 23. PROPER DATE MARKING AND DISPOSITION
      • OBSERVED GROUND MEATS IN LARGE MEAT PREPARATION ROOM STORED IN BOWLS AND PLASTIC CONTAINERS WITH NO DATE MARKING. MANAGEMENT DISCARDED APPROXIMATELY 20 LBS OF PRODUCT VALUED AT APPROXIMATELY $120. INSTRUCTED TO DATEMARK ALL TCS ITEMS PREPARED ON SITE AND HELD MORE THAN 24 HOURS. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 36. THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
      • OBSERVED NO METAL STEM THERMOMETER ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 36. THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
      • OBSERVED NO THERMOMETERS INSIDE REFRIGERATORS LOCATED THROUGHOUT FACILITY. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • OBSERVED OPEN DOORS AT REAR LOADING DOCK AREA AND IN REAR BREAD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN CLOSED, TIGHT FITTING OUT OPENINGS TO PREVENT PEST ENTRY.
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • OBSERVED 25 LIVE ROACHES IN CABINETS AND ON WALLS ABOVE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK IN REAR BREAD PREP AREA AND APPROXIMATELY 100 RODENT DROPPINGS NEAR HANDWAHSING SINK IN LARGE MEAT CUTTING ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE PESTS AND DROPPINGS FROM FACILITY, RECEIVE ADDITIONAL PEST CONTROL SERVICE, AND MAINTAIN FACILITY FREE OF PEST ACTIVITY. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-020(A). CITATION ISSUED.
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • OBSERVED SOILD CARDBOARD ON FLOOR OF LARGE MEAT CUTTING ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE AND USE ONLY SMOOTH, CLEANABLE ITEMS IN FACILITY.
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • OBSERVED OUTDOOR FOOD PREP AREA AT REAR OF FACILITY. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ALL COOKING EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS, ETC. FROM OUTDOOR AREA. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 48. WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS
      • OBSERVED NO CHEMICAL SANITIZER TESTING DEVICES ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN CHEMICAL SANITIZER TESTING DEVICES ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 52. SEWAGE & WASTE WATER PROPERLY DISPOSED
      • OBSERVED NO GREASE TRAP CONNECTED TO 3 COMPARTMENT SINK LOCATED IN REAR BREAD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL RELEVANT LAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • OBSERVED NO TOILET TISSUE IN RESTROOM LOCATED NEAR FRONT DOOR TO FACILITY. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN TOILET TISSUE IN ALL TOILET ROOMS AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED UNUSED EQUIPMENT IN CENTRAL LOADING DOCK AREA AND OUTSIDE AT REAR OF FACILITY. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ALL UNNECESSARY ITEMS.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • OBSERVED NO MECHANICAL VENTILATION IN REAR BREAD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PLACE ALL COOKING EQUIPMENT UNDERNEATH PROPERLY FUNCTIONING MECHANICAL VENTILATION.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • OBSERVED BUILD UP OF DUST ON VENT INSIDE OFFICE TOILET ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • OBSERVED 5 FOOD EMPLOYEES WITHOUT FOOD HANDLER TRAINING. INSTRUCTED ALL EMPLOYEES MUST COMPLETE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING AND MAINTAIN RECORDS THEREOF ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.
  3. License

    0 infractions

  4. License

    0 infractions

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