MAMA'S MEAT MARKET INC.
3400 W 79TH ST, CHICAGO, IL 60652 · Grocery Store
Inspection summary
MAMA'S MEAT MARKET INC. has been inspected 5 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since November 14, 2022. The most recent inspection, on August 24, 2026, recorded 4 infractions.
2 of 5 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 2 inspections with 9 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Food temperature control and Protecting food from contamination.
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.
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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on August 24, 2026. For example:
NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
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 once on August 24, 2026. For example:
THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
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 once on August 24, 2026. For example:
CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
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 November 21, 2024. For example:
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
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 5 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on August 24, 2026. For example:
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
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.
5 inspections
- Canvass
4 infractions
- 36. THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
- INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ADD THERMOMETERS INSIDE REACH IN DISPLAY COOLER TO MONITOR TEMPERATURE.
- 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
- OBSERVED NO SPLASH GUARD ON THE HAND SINK NEXT TO MEAT GRINDER AT THE FRESH MEAT/DELI COUNTER. MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN
- 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
- OBSERVED THE FLOORS, WALL AND SHELVING INSIDE THE WALK IN COOLER DIRTY. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN. ALSO CLEAN THE RUNNERS AND SHELVING INSIDE THE FRESH MEAT/ DELI CASE TO REMOVE FOOD DEBRIS.
- 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
- FLOORS NEED CLEANING IN THE PREP AND DISH WASHING AREAS TO REMOVE SPILLS AND/OR DEBRIS.
- 36. THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
- Canvass
5 infractions
- 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
- OBSERVED THE GASKET SEAL AROUND THE ICE MACHINE IN NEED OF REPLACING. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE.
- 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
- OBSERVED THE LARGE CUTTING BOARD IN THE REAR MEAT DEPARTMENT WITH DEEP DARK CUTTING GROOVES AND STAINS. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE AS A MEANS OF PREVENTING POSSIBLE CONTAMINATION OF FOODS.
- 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
- OBSERVED THE FLOOR UNDER THE SHELVING AND ALONG THE WALL OF THE WALK IN COOLING UNIT IN NEED OF A DETAIL CLEANING. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
- 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
- OBSERVED NO BACK FLOW PREVENTION DEVICE ON THE REAR UTILITY SINK. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN.
- 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
- OBSERVED THE AIR VENT COVERS IN THE WALK IN COOLING UNIT IN NEED OF A DETAIL CLEANING OF DUST BUILD UP. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN AS A MEANS OF PREVENTING POSSIBLE CONTAMINATION OF FOODS STORED IN WALK IN COOLING UNIT.
- 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
- Canvass Re-Inspection
0 infractions
- Canvass
5 infractions
- 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
- NO HANDWASH SINK IN THE REAR WHERE THE MEAT SLICER AND 3-COMPARTMENT SINK ARE LOCATED. PREMISES HAVE ADDED WALLS AND CHANGED THE LAYOUT OF PREMISES WITHOUT PRIOR APPROVAL FROM CDPH. INSTD TO INSTALL HANDWASH SINK UNDER CITY PLUMBING WITH HOT/COLD RUNNING WATER IN SAME AREA. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-030(C) PRIORITY FOUNDATION
- 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
- RAW, WORN WOOD BOARDS ARE BEING USED TO ELEVATE DISPLAY SHELVES IN MEAT AND DELI COOLERS. INSTD TO REMOVE WODD AND USE PROPER FOOD-GRADE EQUIPMENT.
- 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
- MEAT AND CHEESE SLICER NOT CLEAN, DEBRIS ACCUMULATION. INSTD TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN SAME
- 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
- 3-COMPARTMENT SINK FAUCET AND SPRAYER LEAKING. INSTD TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN SAME
- 52. SEWAGE & WASTE WATER PROPERLY DISPOSED
- DRAIN LINE OF ICE MACHINE IMPROPERLY DRAINING INTO HANDWASH SINK. INSTD TO PROPERLY ROUTE DRAIN
- 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
- License
0 infractions
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