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R&A Bread Bakers

1938 W LAWRENCE AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60640 · Bakery

Inspection summary

R&A Bread Bakers has been inspected 5 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since July 8, 2021. The most recent inspection, on December 4, 2025, recorded 2 infractions.

1 of 5 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 2 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Protecting food from contamination, Cleaning and sanitizing 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.

  • 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on July 23, 2024. For example: CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

  • 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on July 23, 2024. For example: NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

  • 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on October 4, 2022. For example: PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

  • 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 once on December 4, 2025. For example: INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

  • 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 6 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on December 4, 2025. 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.

5 inspections

  1. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • OBSERVED A VARIETY OF DEAD INSECTS ON THE FLOOR IN THE STORAGE CLOSETS IN THE BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND REMOVE ALL DEAD INSECTS AND MAINTAIN.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • OBSERVED A SLOW DRAINAGE FOR THE HANDWASHING SINK IN THE UPSTAIRS COFFEE PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
  2. Complaint

    5 infractions

    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY STORE BOXES 6" OFF THE FLOOR IN THE BASEMENT STORAGE AREA TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION AND FOR EASY ACCESS ON CLEANING.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN INTERIOR SURFACES OF PREP AND REACH-IN COOLERS IN PREP AREA.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOORS ALONG THE WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS, ESPECIALLY UNDER AND BEHIND COOLERS IN PREP AREA AND IN BASEMENT STORAGE ROOMS.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE MISSING FLOOR BASEBOARD UNDERNEATH/SIDE OF 3 COMPARTMENT SINK.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • FOUND SEVERAL FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES WITHOUT A FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER, ALL FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES MUST SHOW PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATE.
  3. Complaint

    4 infractions

    • 40. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
      • OBSERVED SOME FOOD HANDLERS NOT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINTS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST WEAR EFFECTIVE HAIR RESTRAINTS.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • OBSERVED ACCUMULATED DUST BUILD UP ON PREP AREA COOLERS CONDENSERS. MUST CLEAN COOLERS CONDENSERS AND MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED DUST BUILD UP ON WALLS IN WASHROOM. MUST CLEAN WASHROOM WALLS AND MAINTAIN.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • NO FOOD HANDLERS CERTIFICATES ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED ALL FOOD HANLDERS MUST BE CERTIFIED WITH NAMES OF EMPLOYEES ON PREMISES.
  4. License

    5 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • FOUND NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY/TRAINING ON-SITE. INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO ESTABLISH AN APPROPRIATE EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY/TRAINING SYSTEM AND MAINTAIN WITH VERIFIABLE DOCUMENTS ON-SITE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010. NO CITATION WAS ISSUED.
    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • FOUND NO PROCEDURE/PLAN AND KIT FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS. INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN A PROCEDURE/PLAN AND TO MAINTAIN ANY APPROPRIATE SUPPLIES ON SITE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005. NO CITATION WAS ISSUED.
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • WASTE PIPE ABOVE SHELVES IN THE BASEMENT DRY STORAGE AREA MUST BE ENCASED. THE SURFACE MUST BE SMOOTH, CLEANABLE, AND NON-ABSORBENT SURFACE OR RELOCATE SHELVES.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • MECHANICAL DRAIN UNDER COMPARTMENT BY THE WALL AT THREE COMPARTMENT SINK IS DRIPPING.REPAIR ISSUE
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • HOLES ON CEILING IN BASEMENT DRY STORAGE AREA. BROKEN WALLS AT NORTH WALL, AT WEST CEILING ABOVE SHELVES IN DRY STORAGE AREA. ALSO, WALLS AT STORAGE AT THE END OF BASEMENT STAIRS. ALL WALLS MENTIONED MUST BE EASILY CLEANABLE.
  5. License

    0 infractions

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