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VEGAN NOW INC

131 N CLINTON ST, CHICAGO, IL 60661 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

VEGAN NOW INC has been inspected 5 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since February 16, 2016. The most recent inspection, on November 15, 2022, found no infractions.

2 of 5 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, Protecting food from contamination and Chemicals and toxic substances.

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 2 separate inspections, most recently on December 6, 2018. For example: PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS

  • 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 December 6, 2018. For example: FOOD IN GOOD CONDITION, SAFE, & UNADULTERATED

  • Chemicals and toxic substancesHigher risk

    Cleaning products, sanitizers and pesticides must be labelled and stored away from food and food-contact surfaces. Inspectors flag chemicals that could end up in food, as well as pest treatments applied without proper supervision.

    Recorded once on April 14, 2017. For example: DISH MACHINES: PROVIDED WITH ACCURATE THERMOMETERS, CHEMICAL TEST KITS AND SUITABLE GAUGE COCK

  • 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 5 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on December 6, 2018. For example: CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE

  • 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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on December 6, 2018. For example: SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & 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.

5 inspections

  1. Canvass

    0 infractions

  2. Canvass

    6 infractions

    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • 2-102.12- OBSERVED NO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION WHILE TIME AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOODS WERE BEING PREPARED AND/OR SERVED, COOKED RICE, COOKED TOFU, ETC. INFORMED SITE THAT CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER MUST BE ON SITE WHENEVER TCS FOODS ARE BEING PREPARED AND/OR SERVED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-012 CITATION ISSUED.
    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • 2-102.14 (N)- OBSERVED NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE. INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO COMPLY AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012(A). NO CITATION ISSUED.
    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • 2-501.11- FOUND NO COMPLETE PROCEDURES ON SITE FOR THE CLEAN UP OF VOMITING AND DIAREAL EVENTS. INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUE.
    • 13. FOOD IN GOOD CONDITION, SAFE, & UNADULTERATED
      • 3-101.11- OBSERVED SEVERAL FRIED VEGAN BREADED DRUMSTICKS SERVED/PRESENT AT HOT LINE WITH A PORTION OF THE SKEWER/STICK INSIDE PRODUCT. INFORMED MANAGER THAT FOOD MUST BE HONESTLY PRESENTED SO THAT IT DOES NOT MISLEAD /MISINFORM THE CUSTOMER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE SKEWER/STICK AFTER PREP/FRYING PROCESS, TO USE LONGER SKEWER/STICK OR PROVIDE LABEL INFORMING CUSTOMER OF SKEWER/STICK SO THAT CUSTOMER IS AWARE OF THE SKEWER/STICK IN SIDE SAID PRODUCT. MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY VIOLATION # 7-40-050(A) NO CITATION ISSUED.
    • 40. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
      • 2-402.11- OBSERVED FOOD HANDLER WITH NO HAIR RESTRAINT ON AT FRONT HOT LINE AREA. INFORMED SITE THAT FOOD HANDLERS MUST HAVE HAIR RESTRAINT IN FOOD PREP AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE HAIR NETS/RESTRAINTS. MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
    • 45. SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED
      • 4-904.11- OBSERVED SINGLE SERVICE PLASTIC KNIVES, ETC. STORED AT SELF SERVICE CONDIMENT STATION WITHOUT COVER, WRAP OR DISPENSER. INFORMED MANAGER THAT SINGLE SERVICE FLATWARE, ETC. MUST BE STORED AT SELF SERVICE STATION, IN APPROVED DISPENSER OR PRE PACKAGED, TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION. MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
  3. Canvass Re-Inspection

    2 infractions

    • 31. CLEAN MULTI-USE UTENSILS AND SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES PROPERLY STORED: NO REUSE OF SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES
      • Found single service items (spoons) improperly stored on top of counter. Instructed to store all single service items inverted with the handle presented to the customer, or protected (individually wrapped or behind the counter). Must maintain same.
    • 45. FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENTS MET
      • Must provide proof of food handler training for all food handling employees.
  4. Canvass

    5 infractions

    • 21. * CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE WHEN POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS ARE PREPARED AND SERVED
      • Observed no city of Chicago certified manager on site while potentially hazardous foods (tofu, zucchini, rice, etc.) are being served. Must have City of Chicago certified food manager on site at all times when potentially hazardous foods are being hot held, and/or served. Serious violation 7-38-012.
    • 22. DISH MACHINES: PROVIDED WITH ACCURATE THERMOMETERS, CHEMICAL TEST KITS AND SUITABLE GAUGE COCK
      • Observed facility does not have chemical test kit on site. MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN A SUPPLY OF CHEMICAL TEST STRIPS ON SITE AND USE THEM TO CHECK THE SANITIZER CONCENTRATION REGULARLY.
    • 31. CLEAN MULTI-USE UTENSILS AND SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES PROPERLY STORED: NO REUSE OF SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES
      • Found single service items (spoons) improperly stored on top of counter. Instructed to store all single service items inverted with the handle presented to the customer, or protected (individually wrapped or behind the counter). Must maintain same.
    • 42. APPROPRIATE METHOD OF HANDLING OF FOOD (ICE) HAIR RESTRAINTS AND CLEAN APPAREL WORN
      • Observed employee without proper hair restraint in food preparation area. Instructed all employees must wear a hair restraint (hat or hair net, etc.) while in the food preparation area. Must maintain same.
    • 45. FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENTS MET
      • Must provide proof of food handler training for all food handling employees.
  5. License

    0 infractions

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