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Taqueria La Esmeralda

April 23, 2021 · Fail

🪳cooked

official resultFail
resultFail
inspection typeCanvass
failed findings6
critical findings1

Failed findings

sick-employee policy not followedcritical

Official wording: Management, Food Employee And Conditional Employee; Knowledge, Responsibilities And Reporting
Inspector note: OBSERVED NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE VERIFICATION FOR EACH EMPLOYEE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. 7-38-010.
code 3Priority
cold food not cold enough

Official wording: Proper Cold Holding Temperatures
Inspector note: OBSERVED COOKED PORK AT IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE AT 45.3F IN PREP COOLER. ALSO OBSERVED RED SALSA FOUND AT 47.7F, SHELLED EGGS FOUND AT 44.6F, AND PAPAS CHORIZO FOUND AT 44.7F IN PREP COOLER. PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE MUST BE AT 41.0F OR BELOW. INSTRUCTED TO DISCARD AND DENATURE FOOD. ALL FOOD WEIGHING APPROXIMATELY 75 LBS AT A COST OF $125.00. PRIORITY VIOLATION. 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
code 22
food prep surfaces dirty

Official wording: Proper Cooling Methods Used; Adequate Equipment For Temperature Control
Inspector note: OBSERVED IMPROPER AMBIENT TEMPERATURE INSIDE OF PREP COOLER AT 45.9F. PROPER AMBIENT TEMPERATURE INSIDE OF COLD HOLDING UNIT MUST BE AT 41.0F OR BELOW TO STORE TCS FOOD ITEMS AT PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE. COOLER IS TAGGED AND HELD FOR INSPECTION. PRIORITY VIOLATION. 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
code 33
Approved Thawing Methods Used

Inspector note: OBSERVED IMPROPER THAWING OF THREE BOXES OF BEEF STORED IN 1-COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO STORE IN REFRIGERATION AT 41.0F OR BELOW OR PLACE UNDER RUNNING WATER.
code 35
Contamination Prevented During Food Preparation, Storage & Display

Inspector note: OBSERVED WASTE WATER PIPE OVER SODA GLASS BOTTLES (JARRITOS) IN BASEMENT. MUST REMOVE SODA AWAY FROM WASTE WATER PIPE TO PREVENT DRIPPING ONTO ITEM. ANOTHER OPTION IS TO COVER AND PROTECT WASTE WATER PIPE.
code 39
Previous Core Violation Corrected

Inspector note: PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION NOT CORRECTED FROM 8/20/2020, REPORT #2386280. #51-MUST PROVIDE BECK FLOW PREVENTION FOR UTILITY SINK FAUCET WITH HOSE ATTACHED. #55-NOTED CLUTTER OF EQUIPMENT AND OTHER UNUSED ITEMS ON FLOORS IN BASEMENT STORAGE ROOMS.MUST ELEVATE ALL ITEMS TO ALLOW CLEANING AND REMOVE ALL UNNECESSARY ITEMS. #57-OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER'S TRAINING CERTIFICATION FROM EMPLOYEE. INSTRUCTED THAT ALL EMPLOYEE'S MUST COMPLY WITH FOOD HANDLER'S TRAINING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOOD HANDLING REGULATION ENFORCEMENT ACT. #58-NOTED CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS ON DUTY WITH NO ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATION. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT THAT ALL FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE THE ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. 7-42-090.
code 60

What changed since the previous inspection?

Compared with Pass w/ Conditions on August 20, 2020: 5 findings appeared for the first time. 1 finding recurred. 6 previous findings did not recur.

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About this record

This record comes from Chicago Department of Public Health. Cooked keeps the official result and wording separate from its plain-English explanation so you can verify what the inspector actually published.

Source: Chicago Data Portal.