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LIFEWAY KEFIR SHOP

222 W MERCHANDISE MART PLZ, CHICAGO, IL 60654 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

LIFEWAY KEFIR SHOP has been inspected 10 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since May 5, 2010. The most recent inspection, on November 8, 2022, found no infractions.

3 of 10 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 temperature control and Handwashing and staff hygiene.

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 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 September 9, 2016. For example: FACILITIES TO MAINTAIN PROPER TEMPERATURE

  • 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 February 28, 2019. For example: PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS

  • 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 6 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on August 4, 2017. For example: WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS

  • 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on February 28, 2019. For example: MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING

  • 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 November 23, 2015. For example: LIGHTING: REQUIRED MINIMUM FOOT-CANDLES OF LIGHT PROVIDED, FIXTURES SHIELDED

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.

10 inspections

  1. Canvass

    0 infractions

  2. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • NO WRITTEN EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE, INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN.
    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • NO VOMIT/ DIARRHEA CLEANUP KIT, INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN
  3. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 21. * CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE WHEN POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS ARE PREPARED AND SERVED
      • FOUND NO CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFIED MANAGER ON PREMISES WHILE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS (YOGURT) WERE BEING HANDLED AND SERVED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER THAT THERE MUST ALWAYS BE A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFIED MANAGER ON PREMISES AT ALL TIMES WHILE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS ARE BEING HANDLED, SERVED AND PREPARED. SERIOUS CITATION ISSUED.
    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • FOUND YOGURT SPLASHES ON THE WALLS AND CEILING AT THE HAND WASHING SINK AREA ACROSS FROM THE CASH REGISTER AREA.MUST CLEAN, SANITIZE AND MAINTAIN.
  4. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 2. FACILITIES TO MAINTAIN PROPER TEMPERATURE
      • GRAB AND GO COOLER LOCATED IN FRONT OF PREP COUNTER NOT MAINTAINED, AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE AT 55.0 F, FOUND MILK SMOOTHIES HELD INSIDE SAID COOLER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN COOLER, AMBINET AIR TEMPERATURE MUST BE 40 F OR BELOW. CRITICAL VIOLATION 7-38-005(A). CITATION ISSUED.
    • 3. POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD MEETS TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENT DURING STORAGE, PREPARATION DISPLAY AND SERVICE
      • FOUND THE FOLLOWING POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS HELD INSIDE GRAB AND GO COOLER HELD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES- MILK SMOOTHIES AT BETWEEN 49.3 F AND 53.0 F. INSTRUCTED MANAGER POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS MUST BE HELD AT 40 F OR BELOW. ALL OUT OF TEMPERTURE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS VOLUNTARILLY DISCARDED AT THIS TIME. CRITICAL VIOLATION 7-38-005(A). CITATION ISSUED.
    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • OBSERVED FOOD SPLATTER ON WALLS AROUND/BEHIND TAYLOR SMOOTHIE MACHINES. MUST CLEAN WALLS.
    • 38. VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED
      • DISHWASH AREA EXPOSED HAND WASH BOWL HOT/COLD WATER PRESSURE LOW. MUST INCREASE WATER PRESSURE AT SAID HAND WASH BOWL.
  5. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • CAULK WORN OUT AROUND THE ONE COMPARTMENT PREP SINK IN THE REAR DISHWASHING AREA. MUST RE CAULK AND MAINTAIN.
    • 36. LIGHTING: REQUIRED MINIMUM FOOT-CANDLES OF LIGHT PROVIDED, FIXTURES SHIELDED
      • MUST CLEAN IN DETAIL THE WALLS BEHIND THE EXPOSED HAND SINK BY THE SOAP DISPENSER AND MAINTAIN.
  6. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN FLOORS ALONG WALL BASE AND UNDERNEATH EQUIPMENT. MUST ALSO CLEAN FLOOR DRAIN AT THE REAR UNDERNEATH 3 COMPARTMENT SINK.
  7. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • ICE MAKER INTERIOR SURFACES NOT CLEAN, BLACK SPOTS AND FILM NOTED. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
  8. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • CABINETS UNDER FRONT SINKS MUST BE KEPT CLEAN & DRY, INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN. All food and non-food contact surfaces of equipment and all food storage utensils shall be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized daily.
  9. License

    0 infractions

  10. License

    0 infractions

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