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PROTEIN BAR

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

Inspection summary

PROTEIN BAR has been inspected 15 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since May 13, 2013. The most recent inspection, on May 21, 2024, found no infractions.

5 of 15 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, Food temperature control and Food source, labelling and allergens.

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.

  • 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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on March 15, 2023. For example: PROPER EATING, TASTING, DRINKING, OR TOBACCO USE

  • 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 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on March 15, 2023. For example: APPROVED THAWING METHODS USED

  • 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on March 15, 2023. For example: FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

  • 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 across 2 separate inspections, most recently on January 27, 2022. 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 once on March 15, 2023. 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.

15 inspections

  1. Canvass

    0 infractions

  2. Canvass

    7 infractions

    • 6. PROPER EATING, TASTING, DRINKING, OR TOBACCO USE
      • OBSERVED EMPOYEE EATING IN THE FOOD PREPARATION AREA. STAFF MUST HAVE A DESIGNATED AREA OUTSIDE OF PREPARATION AREAS TO EAT. DISCUSSED WITH EMPLOYEES WHILE ON SITE. EMPLOYEE RELOCATED TO THE OUTSIDE DINING AREA.
    • 35. APPROVED THAWING METHODS USED
      • FROZEN RAW FISH HAS BEEN THAWED WHILE STILL WRAPPED IN COMMERCIAL REDUCED OXYGEN PACKAGING (ROP). PACKAGING MUST BE REMOVED FROM FISH IN ROP PRIOR TO THAWING UNDER REFRIGERATION OR RUNNING WATER.
    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IN THE KITCHEN PREPARATION AREA IS NOT LABELED. FACILITY MUST PROVIDE LABELS.
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • OBSERVED PANINI PRESS STATION AND CONTAINER OF LIDS FOR FOOD CONTAINERS NEAR SELF-SERVICE UTENISLS. PREPARATION AREA MUST BE PROTECTED FROM CONTAMINATION BY STORING IT: 1) IN A CLEAN, DRY LOCATION; 2) WHERE IT IS NOT EXPOSED TO SPLASH, DUST OR OTHER CONTAMINATION; FACILITY MUST RELOCATE PREPAREA/SINGLE-USE ARTICLES OR PROVIDE A GUARD TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION FROM CUSTOMER SELF-SERVICE AREA.
    • 43. IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED
      • UTENSILS STORED IN STAGNANT WATER NEAR SOUP HOT HOLDING STATION. STORE IN-USE UTENSILS: 1) IN THE FOOD WITH THE HANDLE UP AND OUT OF THE FOOD ITEM; 2) STORED ON A CLEAN AND SANITIZED SIRFACE; 3) IN RUNNING WATER; 4) IN CONTAINER OF HOT WATER MAINTAINED AT OR ABOVE 135F.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • UNNECESSARY ITEMS / NONFUNCTIONAL EQUIPMENT FOUND IN EMPLOYEE STORAGE AREA (BROKEN OVEN). THE PREMISES SHALL BE FREE OF ITEMS UNNECESSARY TO THE OPERATION OR MAINTENANCE OF THE ESTABLISHMENT. THIS INCLUDES EQUIPMENT THAT IS NONFUNCTIONAL OR NO LONGER USED.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • EMPLOYEE BACKPACK FOUND STORED IMPROPERLY ALONG WITH DRY STORAGE ITEMS. FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS SHALL A) PROVIDE DESIGNATED DRESSING ROOMS OR DRESSING AREAS FOR EMPLOYEES THAT ROUTINELY CHANGE THEIR CLOTHES IN THE ESTABLISHMENTS; B) PROVIDE LOCKERS OR OTHER SUITABLE FACILITIES FOR THE ORDERLY STORAGE OF EMPLOYEES' CLOTHING AND OTHER POSSESSIONS.
  3. Canvass Re-Inspection

    2 infractions

    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • OBSERVED NO COVERED TRASH RECEPTACLE INSIDE UNISEX EMPLOYEE TOILET ROOM LOCATED IN REAR. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
    • 61. SUMMARY REPORT DISPLAYED AND VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC
      • OBSERVED NO SUMMARY POSTED FROM PREVIOUS INSPECTION #2547012 DATED 1/27/2022. LEFT NEW SUMMARY AND INSTRUCTED TO POST FOR PUBLIC VIEW. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-010(B). CITATION ISSUED.
  4. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • OBSERVED NO PEST CONTROL LOG BOOK ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO CONTRACT WITH A LICENSED PEST CONTROL SERVICE AND MAINTAIN ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(C). CITATION ISSUED.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • OBSERVED NO COVERED TRASH RECEPTACLE INSIDE UNISEX EMPLOYEE TOILET ROOM LOCATED IN REAR. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
  5. Canvass

    0 infractions

  6. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 40. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
      • A FOOD HANDLER WITH BEARD NOT WEARING BEARD RESTRAINTS.
    • 43. IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED
      • ICE SCOOP STORED IN STAGNATE WATER, INSTRUCTED TO KEEP IN A DRY CLEAN HOLDER.
  7. Canvass

    0 infractions

  8. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • OBSERVED PANINI PRESS WITH GREASE ACCUMULATION. DEGREASE AND MAINTAIN
  9. Canvass

    6 infractions

    • 2. FACILITIES TO MAINTAIN PROPER TEMPERATURE
      • PREP AREA DRINKS REACH IN COOLER NOT MAINTAINED, AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE AT 46.5 F, FOUND MILK, YOGURT HLED INSIDE SAID COOLER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR COOLER, AMBIENT 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 AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES- YOGURT AT 49.0 F AND MILK 52.0 F. INSTRUCTED MANAGER POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS MUST BE HELD AT 40 F OR BELOW IF HELD COLD. ALL OUT OF TEMPERATURE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS VOLUNTARILLY DISCARDED AT THIS TIME. CRITICAL VIOLATION 7-38-005(A). CITATION ISSUED.
    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • DRINKS REACH IN COOLER DOOR RUBBER GASKET NOT TIGHT FITTED AT CORNERS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER COOLER DOOR GASKET MUST TIGHT FIT.
    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • OBSERVED ACCUMULATED FOOD DEBRIS INSIDE PREP AREA FLOOR DRAIN AND DIRT BUILD UP INSIDE FLOOR DRAIN UNDER SODA MACHINE. MUST CLEAN INTERIOR OF ALL FLOOR DRAINS AND MAINTAIN.
    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • OBSERVED DUST BUILD UP ON CEILING TILES/CEILING VENTILATION COVER ABOVE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK. MUST CLEAN CEILING TILES/CEILING VENTILATION COVER AND MAINTAIN.
    • 42. APPROPRIATE METHOD OF HANDLING OF FOOD (ICE) HAIR RESTRAINTS AND CLEAN APPAREL WORN
      • OBSERVED ONE EMPLOYEE AT DISHWASH AREA NOT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINT. INSTRUCTED MANAGER ALL FOOD HANDLERS/DISHWASHER MUST WEAR HAIR RESTRIANTS.
  10. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 30. FOOD IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED
      • LABEL AND DATE ALL FOOD CONTAINERS WITH READY TO EAT FOODS INSIDE THE WALK IN COOLER . ALSO LABEL ALL BULK FOOD CONTAINERS.
    • 31. CLEAN MULTI-USE UTENSILS AND SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES PROPERLY STORED: NO REUSE OF SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES
      • ALL CLEAN UTENSILS, POTS, PANS, FOOD CONTAINERS, MUST BE STORED UPSIDE DOWN/INVERTED TO PREVENT DUST ACCUMULATION AND POSSIBLE CONTAMINATION.
    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • CLEAN IN DETAIL THE FLOOR THRU-OUT STORAGE AREA ALONG THE WALL BASE ALL CORNER AND MAINTAIN.
    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • CEILING VEBT COVER ABOVE THE MOP SINK FAUCET WITH DUST ACCUMULATED. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN. POLE BESIDE THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK WITH PEELING PAINT. MUST SCRAPE PEELING PAINT AND REPAINT.
  11. Canvass Re-Inspection

    0 infractions

  12. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 18. NO EVIDENCE OF RODENT OR INSECT OUTER OPENINGS PROTECTED/RODENT PROOFED, A WRITTEN LOG SHALL BE MAINTAINED AVAILABLE TO THE INSPECTORS
      • NOTED OVER 25 FLYING INSECTS ON WALLS, SHELVES AND CEILING OF PREMISES ESPECIALLY AT THE REAR. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE AFFECTED AREAS. RECOMMENDED TO CONSULT WITH PEST CONTROL COMPANY. CITATION ISSUED FOR SERIOUS VIOLATION #7-38-020
    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN THE PANINI GRILLS AT THE FRONT AND REAR PREP AREAS.
  13. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • ICE SCOOP HOLDER NOT CLEAN, INSTRUCTED TO CELAN AND MAINTAIN.
  14. License Re-Inspection

    0 infractions

  15. License

    2 infractions

    • 9. WATER SOURCE: SAFE, HOT & COLD UNDER CITY PRESSURE
      • NO HOT RUNNING WATER IN FACILITY, INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE HOT WATER NO LESS THAN 110F.
    • 37. TOILET ROOM DOORS SELF CLOSING: DRESSING ROOMS WITH LOCKERS PROVIDED: COMPLETE SEPARATION FROM LIVING/SLEEPING QUARTERS
      • TOILET ROOM DOOR NOT SELF CLOSING, INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL.

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