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PALETERIA LA TRADICION DEMICHOACAN

3211 N CICERO AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60641 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

PALETERIA LA TRADICION DEMICHOACAN has been inspected 10 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since October 31, 2014. The most recent inspection, on January 29, 2021, found no infractions.

4 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 source, labelling and allergens and Handwashing and staff hygiene.

The last 3 inspections in a row found no infractions. 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.

  • 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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on April 21, 2017. For example: FOOD IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED

  • 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 4, 2016. For example: APPROPRIATE METHOD OF HANDLING OF FOOD (ICE) HAIR RESTRAINTS AND CLEAN APPAREL WORN

  • 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 10 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on January 9, 2018. For example: FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED

  • 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 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on May 4, 2016. For example: * CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE WHEN POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS ARE PREPARED AND SERVED

  • 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 January 9, 2018. For example: FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED

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. Non-Inspection

    0 infractions

  3. Canvass

    0 infractions

  4. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE KNIFE RACKS OR MAGNETIC STRIPS FOR PROPER KNIFE STORAGE (NOTED KNIVES STORED IN BETWEEN PAPER TOWEL HOLDER AND WALLS).
    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN INTERIOR SURFACES AND STORAGE RACKS WITH BLACK MOLD LIKE BUILD-UP INSIDE REACH-IN COOLER IN REAR PREP/DISH WASHING AREA.
    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • INSTRUCTED TO SEAL BASEBOARD WITH GAP/OPENING BEHIND REACH-IN COOLER (NEXT TO EXPOSED HAND SINK IN FRONT PREP AREA.
    • 41. PREMISES MAINTAINED FREE OF LITTER, UNNECESSARY ARTICLES, CLEANING EQUIPMENT PROPERLY STORED
      • CLEANING EQUIPMENT (MOP, BROOM ETC) MUST BE STORED OFF THE FLOOR.
  5. Canvass

    5 infractions

    • 30. FOOD IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED
      • MUST LABEL AND DATE ALL CONTAINERS WITH READY TO EAT POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS INSIDE THE REACH IN COOLER AND MAINTAIN.
    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • DEFROST ICE CREAM FREEZER WITH HEAVY ICE ACCUMULATED AND MAINTAIN.
    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • CLEAN,REMOVE DUST BUILD UP ON THE FAN GUARD OF THE REACH IN COOLER IN THE REAR PREP/DISH AREA AND MAINTAIN.
    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • PEELING PAINT ON THE WALLS BY THE DINING AREA. MUST SCRAPE PEELING PAINT AND RE PAINT AND MAINTAIN. CEILING VENT COVER IN THE WASHROOM WITH HEAVY DUST BUILD-UP. MUST REMOVE DUST,CLEAN AND MAINTAIN. SEAL HOLES ON THE CEILING ABOVE THE WINDOWS IN THE FRONT AREA AND MAINTAIN.
    • 43. FOOD (ICE) DISPENSING UTENSILS, WASH CLOTHS PROPERLY STORED
      • WASH CLOTH FOR WIPING THE DINING TABLES, CHOPPING BOARD, PREP TABLES,ETC. MUST BE STORED ON A BUCKET WITH SANITIZING SOLUTION.
  6. Complaint

    2 infractions

    • 30. FOOD IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED
      • Found several bulk food/dry storage items without proper label. Must label bulk food containers with name (and all potentially hazardous foods must be labeled with name and date).
    • 42. APPROPRIATE METHOD OF HANDLING OF FOOD (ICE) HAIR RESTRAINTS AND CLEAN APPAREL WORN
      • Operator wearing open toed shoes. Instructed must wear closed toed shoes at all times.
  7. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 21. * CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE WHEN POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS ARE PREPARED AND SERVED
      • No certified food manager on site while potentially hazardous foods being prepared (corn, nachos, etc). Instructed must have a certified food manager on site at all times. serious violation 7-38-012.
    • 38. VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED
      • Found leak in pipe under 3 compartment sink in rear kitchen prep area. Instructed to repair and maintain.
    • 45. FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENTS MET
      • No food handler certificates on site. Instructed all employees who handle food, must have food handler certificate on site.
  8. Canvass

    0 infractions

  9. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 30. FOOD IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED
      • ALL PRE-PACKAGED, READY TO EAT PRODUCTS FOR SALE IN TO GO DISPLAY COOLER MUST BE PROPERLY LABELED WITH BUSINESS NAME, ADDRESS AND INGREDIENTS.
    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • MUST INSTALL A SPLASH GUARD BETWEEN THE FRONT EXPOSED HAND SINK AND THE DRY FOOD STORAGE SHELVING ON THE LEFT SIDE.
    • 45. FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENTS MET
      • NO IDPH FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATES ON SITE OR PROOF OF TRAINING. MUST PROVIDE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATES FOR ALL FOOD HANDLERS.
  10. License

    2 infractions

    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • INSTRUCTED TO SEAL OR PAINT RAW WOOD DOOR (BETWEEN FRONT AND REAR PREP) IN PREP AREA.
    • 37. TOILET ROOM DOORS SELF CLOSING: DRESSING ROOMS WITH LOCKERS PROVIDED: COMPLETE SEPARATION FROM LIVING/SLEEPING QUARTERS
      • INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL SELF CLOSING DEVICE AT WASHROOM DOOR.

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