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IVY GARDEN EARLY LEARNING CENTER

3016 N ASHLAND AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60657 · Children's Services Facility

Inspection summary

IVY GARDEN EARLY LEARNING CENTER has been inspected 13 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since September 27, 2018. The most recent inspection, on October 3, 2025, found no infractions.

3 of 13 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.

The last 2 inspections in a row found no infractions. Recent inspections have recorded fewer infractions than earlier ones, so the record is improving.

What these findings mean

Health authorities word their findings differently, so we group them by what they mean for your health. Higher-risk findings are the ones inspectors treat as critical, because they can directly make someone sick.

  • Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk

    Hands are one of the main ways germs spread, from person to person and onto food and surfaces. Inspectors look for stocked, accessible handwashing sinks, staff washing their hands when required, and sick staff being kept away from work where it matters. Gaps here can spread illness quickly.

    Recorded 6 times across 6 separate inspections, most recently on January 19, 2024. For example: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

  • Cleaning and sanitizingHigher risk

    Surfaces, dishes and tools that touch food or people must be cleaned and then sanitized or disinfected. Inspectors check sanitizer strength, dishwasher temperatures and how cleaning is done. Poor sanitizing lets germs survive from one use to the next.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on April 11, 2023. For example: NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

  • Food temperature controlHigher risk

    Inspectors check that anything that has to be kept at a set temperature, such as chilled or hot food, or equipment like sterilizers, stays in its safe range and that accurate thermometers are on hand. With food, temperature problems are one of the most common causes of food poisoning.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on October 1, 2021. For example: FOOD RECEIVED AT PROPER TEMPERATURE

  • Food source, labelling and allergensHigher risk

    Food and other products must come from approved sources, stay in labelled containers and be thrown out when spoiled, expired or damaged. Labelling also matters for allergies: an unlabelled container can hide an allergen.

    Recorded once on October 1, 2021. For example: FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

  • Building, plumbing and upkeepLower risk

    Floors, walls and ceilings must be clean and in good repair, with working lighting, ventilation, plumbing, hot and cold water, and washrooms. These are rarely an immediate health risk on their own, but persistent problems can lead to pest or sanitation issues.

    Recorded 5 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on October 12, 2021. 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.

13 inspections

  1. Canvass

    0 infractions

  2. Canvass Re-Inspection

    0 infractions

  3. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • ROOM 108 HANDWASH SINK NOT MAINTAINED, FOUND NO RUNNING HOT WATER. WATER TEMPERATURE AT SAID SINK IS 54 F. INSTRUCTED MANAGER ROOM 108 HANDWASH SINK MUST REACH A MINIMAL OF 100 F BY DATE OF REINSPECTION 1/23/24. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-030(c).
  4. License

    1 infraction

    • 40. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
      • NO HAIR RESTRAINT HAS THE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER SLICED FRUIT IN PREP AREA.EFFECTIVE HAIR RESTRAINT IS REQUIRED IN KITCHEN/PREP AREA.
  5. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • MUST NOT USE MILK CRATES AS A MEANS OF ELEVATION FOR STORED ITEMS.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • OBSERVED BROKEN PLASTIC LINER AT BASE OF PREP TABLES IN THE BASEMENT KITCHEN.REMOVE. SURFACE MUST BE SMOOTH AND CLEANABLE .
  6. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • NOTED SPILLS INSIDE THE KITCHEN REFRIGERATION UNIT AT THE BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
  7. License Re-Inspection

    2 infractions

    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • : 5-205.15-- MUST NOT USE PLASTIC WRAPPING AS A SPLASH GUARD ON PIPING INTO THE FLOOR DRAIN AT THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • : 6-201.11-- NOTED PLASTIC CONTAINERS ON ALL FLOORS UNDER ALL SOAP DISPENSERS USED FOR SOAP SPILLAGE. MUST REMOVE, PROVIDE SOAP DISPENSERS THAT WON'T DRIP ONTO THE FLOORS.
  8. License

    9 infractions

    • 1. PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES
      • THE PERSON IN CHARGE DURING THE INSPECTION DID NOT HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO SANITATION CERTIFICATE POSTED ON THE PREMISES DURING THE INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION.
    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • THE PERSON IN CHARGE DURING THE INSPECTION DID NOT HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO SANITATION CERTIFICATE POSTED ON THE PREMISES DURING THE INSPECTION WHILE CATERED FOODS WERE BEING DELIVERED AT IMPROPER FOOD TEMPERATURES. PERSON ARRIVED AT THE END OF THE INSPECTION WITH A CITY OF CHICAGO SANITATION CERTIFICATE FOR THE PERSON IN CHARGE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012 CITATION ISSUED.
    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • NO REQUIRED EQUIPMENT ON SITE FOR THE WRITTEN CLEANING PROCEDURE ON SITE. MUST PROVIDE ALL REQUIRED EQUIPMENT. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION.
    • 12. FOOD RECEIVED AT PROPER TEMPERATURE
      • OBSERVED CATERED TCS FOODS DELIVERED BY FOOD 2 YOU CATERING CO. AT 10:55AM AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES. WITNESSED THE DRIVER TAKE FOODS FROM THE TRUCK, PUT ON THE FOOD CART, ENTER FALSE TEMPERATURES IN THE TEMPERATURE LOG BOOK ON THE FOOD CART WITHOUT TAKING FOOD TEMPERATURES THEN OBSERVED AN EMPLOYEE RECEIVE THE FOOD WITHOUT CHECKING THE FOOD TEMPERATURE AND PROCEED TO DELIVER THE FOOD TO THE KITCHEN. I TOOK TEMPERATURES AT THAT TIME AND FOUND CHEDDAR CHEESE AT 56.5F, COOKED VEGETABLES AT 131.9F AND MILK AT 48.2F. THE DRIVER LOGGED THE VEGETABLE TEMPERATURE OF 170F AND LOGGED NO COLD TEMPERATURES. THE PERSON IN CHARGE VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED ALL FOODS AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURE. REVIEWED PROPER PROCEDURE FOR RECEIVING HOT AND COLD FOODS. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • ALL BULK FOODS NOT STORED IN THE ORIGINAL CONTAINER MUST BE LABELED WITH THE PRODUCT COMMON NAME.
    • 45. SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED
      • ALL STORED ITEMS THROUGHOUT THE UTILITY STORAGE ROOM MUST BE ELEVATED FROM THE FLOORS.
    • 48. WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS
      • NO CHLORINE CHEMICAL TEST STRIPS ON SITE TO MONITOR SANITATION LEVELS WHILE WASHING, RINSING AND SANITIZING DISHWARE. MUST PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • MUST NOT USE PLASTIC WRAPPING AS A SPLASH GUARD ON PIPING INTO THE FLOOR DRAIN AT THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • NOTED PLASTIC CONTAINERS ON ALL FLOORS UNDER ALL SOAP DISPENSERS USED FOR SOAP SPILLAGE. MUST REMOVE, PROVIDE SOAP DISPENSERS THAT WON'T DRIP ONTO THE FLOORS.
  9. Canvass Re-Inspection

    0 infractions

  10. Canvass Re-Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 59. PREVIOUS PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION CORRECTED
      • THE FOLLOWING PREVIOUS PRIORITY FOUNDATION DATED ON 07/23/20 REPORT #2385243 HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED-#10 NO EXPOSED HAND SINK PROVIDED AT STAFF BREAK ROOM WHICH IS ALSO USED TO RECEIVE AND DISPENSE FOOD TO CHILDREN. BREAK ROOM IS ALSO USED TO CUT FRESH FRUIT FOR CHILDREN. PRESENTLY A TWO COMPARTMENT SINK IS INSTALLED TO THIS AREA. HOWEVER IS USED TO STORE DIRTY CUPS, PLATE, SIP CUPS ETC. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL HANDWASH SINK WITH HOT/COLD WATER, ALSO PROVIDE SOAP AND PAPER TOWEL/HAND DRYING DEVICE BY DATE OF REINSPECTION 08/03/20. PRIORITY VIOLATION 07-42-090.
  11. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • NO EXPOSED HAND SINK PROVIDED AT STAFF BREAK ROOM WHICH IS ALSO USED TO RECEIVE AND DISPENSE FOOD TO CHILDREN. BREAK ROOM IS ALSO USED TO CUT FRESH FRUITS FOR CHILDREN.PRESENTLY A TWO COMPARTMENT SINK IS INSTALLED ON THIS AREA,HOWEVER IS USED TO STORE DIRTY CUPS,PLATE, SIP CUPS ETC. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL HANDWASHING SINK WITH HOT/COLD RUNNING WATER,ALSO PROVIDE SOAP AND PAPER TOWELS/HAND DRYING DEVICE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION:7-38-030(C).
    • 36. THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
      • SNACK ROOM REFRIGERATOR MISSING THERMOMETER. MUST PROVIDE A WORKING THERMOMETER INSIDE REFRIGERATOR.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • NO COVERED TRASH RECEPTACLES IN STAFF WASHROOMS. MUST PROVIDE.
  12. License

    1 infraction

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • NO EXPOSED HAND SINK PROVIDED AT STAFF BREAK ROOM WHICH IS ALSO USED TO RECEIVE AND DISPENSE FOOD TO CHILDREN. BREAK ROOM IS ALSO USED TO CUT FRESH FRUITS FOR CHILDREN.PRESENTLY A TWO COMPARTMENT SINK IS INSTALLED ON THIS AREA,HOWEVER IS USED TO STORE DIRTY CUPS,PLATE, SIP CUPS ETC. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL HANDWASHING SINK WITH HOT/COLD RUNNING WATER,ALSO PROVIDE SOAP AND PAPER TOWELS/HAND DRYING DEVICE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION:7-38-030(C),NO CITATION ISSUED
  13. License

    1 infraction

    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • 2-501.11 FOUND NO VOMIT AND DIARRHEAL CLEAN UP PROCUEDURE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. NO CITATION ISSUED. 7-38-005. MUST PROVIDE.

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