Canvass
Jul 30, 2026
Out of Business
0 recorded violations
No violations recorded in this inspection.
Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Jul 30, 2026 · Original Source
Grocery Store · Chicago, IL
Cermak Produce
4401 W Armitage Ave
Last inspected Jul 30, 2026 · View Map ↗ · Compare ↗
The department’s records list this business as closed or out of business.
Out of Business
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ImprovingThe latest inspection recorded fewer violations than the one before it. Review the dated records below.
The full inspection history
5 inspectionsCanvass
Mar 25, 2026
Pass
4 recorded violations
notedCode 39Contamination
Official wording
CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
Inspector’s notes
OBSERVED FOOD ITEMS STORED ON FLOOR IN THE WALK-IN FREEZER, PREP AND STORAGE AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROPERLY STORE AND PROTECT FOOD ITEMS FROM CONTAMINATION WHILE STORED BY ELEVATING AT LEAST SIX INCHES FROM THE FLOOR ON RAISED SHELVING UNITS.
In plain English
Food was stored or handled in a way that could let germs or other material get into it, such as raw meat stored above ready-to-eat food or uncovered food. Cross-contamination is a common cause of foodborne illness.
More about food not protected from contaminationnotedCode 47Cleaning and sanitizing
Official wording
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
Inspector’s notes
OBSERVED MILK CRATES BEING USED AS SHELVING THROUGHOUT THE PREP AND STORAGE AREAS. MUST REMOVE AND PROVIDE SHELVING THAT IS 6" OFF THE FLOOR AND PROVIDES FLOOR ACCESSIBILITY TO ENSURE ADEQUATE FACILITY CLEANING.
In plain English
Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.
More about cleaning or sanitizing problemsnotedCode 49Cleaning and sanitizing
Official wording
NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
Inspector’s notes
OBSERVED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF ICE BUILDUP ON THE FLOOR, RACKS, AND BOXES OF THE WALK IN FREEZER. MUST REMOVE EXCESS ICE, DETAIL CLEAN, AND MAINTAIN.
In plain English
Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.
More about cleaning or sanitizing problemsnotedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing
Official wording
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
Inspector’s notes
OBSERVED FOOD DEBRIS AND SPILLS ON THE FLOORS IN CORNERS THROUGHOUT THE FACILITY. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN UNDER ALL SHELVING UNITS, INTERIOR OF PREP DISH AREA, AROUND DISH MACHINE, PREP TABLES AND ALL COOKING EQUIPMENT TO REMOVE SPILLS, FOOD DEBRIS, DIRT BUILDUP AND/OR GREASE. INSTRUCTED TO INCREASE CLEANING FREQUENCY AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
In plain English
Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.
More about cleaning or sanitizing problemsOfficial record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Mar 25, 2026 · Original Source
Complaint
Mar 7, 2025
Pass w/ Conditions
5 recorded violations
notedCode 22Food temperature
Official wording
PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
Inspector’s notes
OBSERVED TCS FOODS HELD AT IMPROPER INTERNAL TEMPERATURES IN THE MEAT PREP COLD HOLDING UNIT, SUCH AS 10 POUNDS OF SHRIMPS BETWEEN 48.0F-50.7F. MANAGER DISCARDED AND DENATURED A TOTAL 10LBS AT $100. ALL COLD TCS FOOD MUST MAINTAIN 41F OR BELOW . PRIORITY VIOLATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-005.
In plain English
Food was not kept cold enough, hot enough, cooled fast enough, or cooked or reheated to the right temperature. Bacteria grow quickly in the "danger zone" between 41°F and 135°F, which makes this one of the most important food-safety checks.
More about food kept at an unsafe temperaturenotedCode 47Cleaning and sanitizing
Official wording
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
Inspector’s notes
OBSERVED TORN/DAMAGED AND DIRTY RUBBER GASKET ON DOOR OF THE FREEZER IN THE MEAT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE GASKET.
In plain English
Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.
More about cleaning or sanitizing problemsnotedCode 49Cleaning and sanitizing
Official wording
NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
Inspector’s notes
MUST REMOVE ALL ICE BUILD UP FROM INSIDE THE MEAT DEPARTMENT WALK-IN FREEZER, CLEAN, AND MAINTAIN.
In plain English
Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.
More about cleaning or sanitizing problemsnotedCode 54Facility maintenance
Official wording
GARBAGE & REFUSE PROPERLY DISPOSED; FACILITIES MAINTAINED
Inspector’s notes
OBSERVED DEBRIS AROUND THE DUMPSTER AREA. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
In plain English
Floors, walls, ceilings, lighting, ventilation, or garbage areas needed repair or cleaning. These are usually less urgent than food-handling problems but still need to be fixed.
More about building upkeep issuesnotedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing
Official wording
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
Inspector’s notes
THE WALLS IN THE MEN'S WASHROOM ARE STAINED. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN THE WALLS IN THE MEN'S WASHROOM. CLEAN OR REPLACE THE STAINED CEILING TILES ABOVE THE MEAT CUTTING PREP AREA.
In plain English
Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.
More about cleaning or sanitizing problemsOfficial record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Mar 7, 2025 · Original Source
Canvass Re-Inspection
Jul 12, 2024
Pass
3 recorded violations
notedCode 47Cleaning and sanitizing
Official wording
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
Inspector’s notes
OBSERVED CARDBOARD USED AS LINER ON FLOORS IN HOT FOODS PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE ALL CARDBOARD FROM SHELVING UNITS. ALL FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES MUST BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.
In plain English
Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.
More about cleaning or sanitizing problemsnotedCode 49Cleaning and sanitizing
Official wording
NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
Inspector’s notes
MUST REMOVE ALL ICE BUILD UP FROM INSIDE THE MEAT DEPARTMENT WALK-IN FREEZER, CLEAN, AND MAINTAIN.
In plain English
Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.
More about cleaning or sanitizing problemsnotedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing
Official wording
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
Inspector’s notes
OBSERVED DIRT AND FOOD DEBRIS ON FLOOR DRAINS INSIDE WALK-IN COOLERS AND AND FOOD PREPARATION AREAS. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
In plain English
Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.
More about cleaning or sanitizing problemsOfficial record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Jul 12, 2024 · Original Source
Canvass
Jul 10, 2024
Fail
6 recorded violations
notedCode 10Handwashing
Official wording
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
Inspector’s notes
OBSERVED NO HOT RUNNING WATER AT EMPLOYEE BATHROOM HANDWASHING SINK, MEN AND WOMEN WASHROOM. TEMPERATURE OF WATER WAS 87.5F-90.5F AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. LAOS OBSERVED HAND SINK AT THE HANDWASHING SINK AT THE FRONT BREAD OVEN AT 73.2F INSTRUCTED TO HAVE HOT AND COLD RUNNING WATER AT A MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 100F AT ALL HAND WASH SINKS. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-030(C)
In plain English
Staff were not washing their hands when required, or a handwashing sink was blocked, missing soap or paper towels, or used for something else. Hands are one of the most common ways germs reach food.
More about handwashing problemsnotedCode 22Food temperature
Official wording
PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
Inspector’s notes
OBSERVED TCS FOODS HELD AT IMPROPER INTERNAL TEMPERATURES IN THE MEAT PREP COLD HOLDING UNIT, SUCH AS 40LBS OF CHICKEN AT 51.2F, 15LBS OF PORK AT 48.8F AND 10LBS OF BEEF AT 47.4F. MANAGER DISCARDED AND DENATURED A TOTAL 65LBS AT $200. ALL COLD TCS FOOD MUST MAINTAIN 41F OR BELOW . PRIORITY VIOLATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-005.
In plain English
Food was not kept cold enough, hot enough, cooled fast enough, or cooked or reheated to the right temperature. Bacteria grow quickly in the "danger zone" between 41°F and 135°F, which makes this one of the most important food-safety checks.
More about food kept at an unsafe temperaturenotedCode 47Cleaning and sanitizing
Official wording
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
Inspector’s notes
OBSERVED CARDBOARD USED AS LINER ON FLOORS IN HOT FOODS PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE ALL CARDBOARD FROM SHELVING UNITS. ALL FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES MUST BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.
In plain English
Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.
More about cleaning or sanitizing problemsnotedCode 49Cleaning and sanitizing
Official wording
NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
Inspector’s notes
MUST REMOVE ALL ICE BUILD UP FROM INSIDE THE MEAT DEPARTMENT WALK-IN FREEZER, CLEAN, AND MAINTAIN.
In plain English
Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.
More about cleaning or sanitizing problemsnotedCode 53Cleaning and sanitizing
Official wording
TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
Inspector’s notes
OBSERVED NO COVERED BIN IN THE MANAGER'S EMPLOYEE'S WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE
In plain English
Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.
More about cleaning or sanitizing problemsnotedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing
Official wording
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
Inspector’s notes
OBSERVED DIRT AND FOOD DEBRIS ON FLOOR DRAINS INSIDE WALK-IN COOLERS AND AND FOOD PREPARATION AREAS. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
In plain English
Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.
More about cleaning or sanitizing problemsOfficial record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Jul 10, 2024 · Original Source