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SUNFLOWER EARLY LEARNING ACADEMY

5404-5406 W Devon AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60646 · Daycare (2 - 6 Years)

Inspection summary

SUNFLOWER EARLY LEARNING ACADEMY has been inspected 7 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since May 6, 2021. The most recent inspection, on October 6, 2025, recorded 3 infractions.

2 of 7 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: Cleaning and sanitizing, Handwashing and staff hygiene and Food temperature control.

Recent inspections have recorded fewer infractions than earlier ones, so the record is improving.

What these findings mean

Health authorities word their findings differently, so we group them by what they mean for the people in care. Higher-risk findings are the ones that could directly make someone sick, and they matter more here because young children, older adults and people who are unwell are more vulnerable to infection.

  • Cleaning and sanitizingHigher risk

    Surfaces, dishes and tools that touch food or people must be cleaned and then sanitized or disinfected. Inspectors check sanitizer strength, dishwasher temperatures and how cleaning is done. Poor sanitizing lets germs survive from one use to the next.

    Recorded 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on October 6, 2025. For example: NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

  • Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk

    Hand hygiene is the most important way to stop germs spreading between children, residents and staff. Inspectors check that sinks are stocked and easy to reach, that staff wash their hands when required (for example after diapering or before handling food), and that sick staff stay away from work.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on April 5, 2024. For example: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

  • Food temperature controlHigher risk

    Inspectors check that anything that has to be kept at a set temperature, such as chilled or hot food, or equipment like sterilizers, stays in its safe range and that accurate thermometers are on hand. With food, temperature problems are one of the most common causes of food poisoning.

    Recorded once on May 6, 2021. For example: THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

  • Building, plumbing and upkeepLower risk

    Floors, walls and ceilings must be clean and in good repair, with working lighting, ventilation, plumbing, hot and cold water, and washrooms. These are rarely an immediate health risk on their own, but persistent problems can lead to pest or sanitation issues.

    Recorded 8 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on October 6, 2025. For example: PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

  • Food safety training and certificationLower risk

    Many jurisdictions require a trained or certified person on site, such as a certified food handler. These findings mean the training record or the trained person was missing at the time. They do not by themselves mean anything was handled unsafely.

    Recorded 4 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on October 6, 2025. For example: CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE

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.

7 inspections

  1. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON PREMISES WHILE TCS FOODS (TURKEY CHILI) WAS DROPPED OFF BY CATERER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER A CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER MUST BE ON PREMISES WHEN TCS FOODS ARE RECEIVED BY CATERER. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-012.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • OBSERVED FOOD STAINS INSIDE PREP AREA HANDWASH SINK. MUST CLEAN PREP AREA HANDWASH SINK AND MAINTAIN.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • OBSERVED 2 STOPPERS NOT PROPERLY WORKING FOR DISWASH 3-COMPARTMENT SINK. MUST PROVIDE WORKING STOPPERS FOR 3-COMPARTMENT SINK.
  2. Canvass Re-Inspection

    2 infractions

    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • OBSERVED NO CERTIFIED MANAGER ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION FROM 8:20-9:10AM. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN AN EMPLOYEE HOLDING A VALID CITY OF CHICAGO FOODSERVICE MANAGER CERTIFICATE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012. NO CITATION ISSUED. SEE COMMENTS.
    • 61. SUMMARY REPORT DISPLAYED AND VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC
      • OBSERVED NO SUMMARY POSTED FROM PREVIOUS INSPECTION #2592226 DATED 4/9/2024. LEFT NEW SUMMARY AND INSTRUCTED TO POST FOR PUBLIC VIEW. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-010(B). CITATION ISSUED.
  3. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED WASHBOWL SINK LOCATED IN STAFF RESTROOM NEXT TO KITCHEN MAINTAINING IMPROPER MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 64.2F. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE WASHBOWL SINK SO THAT IT IS CAPABLE OF DELIVERING HOT WATER UNDER PRESSURE AT TEMPERATURES BETWEEN 100 AND 120F. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-030. CITATION ISSUED.
  4. License

    0 infractions

  5. Canvass

    0 infractions

  6. License Re-Inspection

    4 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • 2-102.14(O)-OBSERVED NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE VERIFICATION FOR EACH EMPLOYEE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. 7-38-010.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • 5-501.17-OBSERVED NO GARBAGE WITH LID AT STAFF BATHROOM BY KITCHEN. MUST PROVIDE.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • 6-201.13-OBSERVED MISSING COVING ALONG BASEBOARDS IN LITTLE BLOSSOMS AND LITTLE BUDS CLASSROOMS. MUST REPAIR.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • 6-501.11-OBSERVED HANGING VENT FROM CEILING ABOVE TOILET IN STAFF BATHROOM. MUST REPAIR.
  7. License

    9 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • OBSERVED NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE VERIFICATION FOR EACH EMPLOYEE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. 7-38-010.
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED IMPROPER WATER TEMPERATURE AT HAND WASHING SINK IN BABY ROOM AT 95.7F, WATER TEMPERATURE AT HAND SINK IN SUNFLOWER ROOM FOUND AT 66.5F AND WATER TEMPERATURE AT HAND SINK IN STAFF BATHROOM BY KITCHEN FOUND AT 85.5F. PROPER WATER TEMPERATURE MUST BE AT 100.0F OR HIGHER THROUGH A MIXING VALVE OR COMBINATION FAUCET. PRIORITY VIOLATION. 7-38-030(C).
    • 16. FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
      • OBSERVED NO CHEMICAL SANITIZER ON SITE DURING INSPECTION. MUST HAVE AVAILABLE DURING ALL HOURS OF OPERATION TO SANITIZE EQUIPMENT AND UTENSILS. PRIORITY VIOLATION. 7-38-005.
    • 36. THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
      • OBSERVED NO METAL STEM THERMOMETER PROVIDED ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-005.
    • 48. WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS
      • OBSERVED NO CHEMICAL TEST KIT ON SITE DURING INSPECTION. MUST PROVIDE CHEMICAL TEST KIT ON SITE AT ALL TIMES TO ACCURATELY MEASURE THE CONCENTRATION OF SANITIZING SOLUTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-005.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • OBSERVED NO GARBAGE WITH LID AT STAFF BATHROOM BY KITCHEN. MUST PROVIDE.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED MISSING COVING ALONG BASEBOARDS IN LITTLE BLOSSOMS AND LITTLE BUDS CLASSROOMS. MUST REPAIR.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED BROKEN DOWN CARD BOARD BOXES IN LITTLE BLOSSOMS CLASSROOM. MUST REMOVE FROM PREMISES TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED HANGING VENT FROM CEILING ABOVE TOILET IN STAFF BATHROOM. MUST REPAIR.

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