Grocery Store · Chicago, IL

Eric's Food Center

Name: Eric's Food Center
Address: 13209 S Baltimore Ave, Chicago, IL

13209 S Baltimore Ave

Last inspected Aug 22, 2025 · View Map ↗ · Compare ↗

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ImprovingThe latest inspection recorded fewer violations than the one before it. Review the dated records below.

The full inspection history

3 inspections

Canvass Re-Inspection

Aug 22, 2025

Pass

4 recorded violations

notedCode 45Equipment and utensils

Official wording

SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED

Inspector’s notes

4-502.13 OBSERVED CARDBOARD BEING RE-USED AS A FLOOR LINER IN THE REAR MEAT WALK IN COOLER/FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE CARDBOARD, ALL SURFACES MUST BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.

In plain English

Equipment, utensils, thermometers, cutting boards, or single-use items were not in good condition, not the right type, or not stored properly.

More about equipment or utensil issues

notedCode 48Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

Inspector’s notes

4-603.15 OBSERVED NO WRITTEN PROCEDURE FOR WASHING RINSING AND SANITIZING LARGE POTS THAT ARE LOCATED IN THE REAR MEAT PREP AREA WALK IN COOLER. 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 problems

notedCode 49Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

4-601.11(C) OBSERVED DEEP DARK GROOVES/STAINS ON THE CUTTING BOARDS IN THE DELI/MEAT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE GROOVES AND STAINS OR REPLACE CUTTING BOARDS.

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 problems

notedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

6-501.114 OBSERVED CLUTTER IN THE REAR BY THE EXIT DOOR. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE UNNECESSARY CLUTTER AND ORGANIZE.

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 problems

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Aug 22, 2025 · Original Source

Canvass

Aug 14, 2025

Fail

6 recorded violations

notedCode 16Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED

Inspector’s notes

4-601.11(A) OBSERVED THE ICE MACHINE (ICE USED FOR CONSUMPTION) WITH AN EXCESSIVE BLACK SUBSTANCE IN THE INTERIOR OF THE ICE MACHINE THROUGHOUT. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-005.

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 problems

notedCode 38Pests

Official wording

INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

Inspector’s notes

6-501.111 OBSERVED EVIDENCE OF PEST ACTIVITY ON SITE. OBSERVED ABOUT 5 LARGE FLIES AND ABOUT 10 SMALL FLIES FLYING IN THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA/DRY STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO ELIMINATE LIVE INSECT ACTIVITY, CLEAN AND SANITIZE AFFECTED AREAS AND RECOMMENDED CONTACTING PEST CONTROL FOR A SERVICE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-020(A).

In plain English

The inspector found mice, rats, cockroaches, flies, or evidence of them (like droppings) inside the business, or conditions that could attract them. Pests can spread bacteria to food and surfaces, so this is treated as one of the more serious findings.

More about signs of rodents or insects

notedCode 45Equipment and utensils

Official wording

SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED

Inspector’s notes

4-502.13 OBSERVED CARDBOARD BEING RE-USED AS A FLOOR LINER IN THE REAR MEAT WALK IN COOLER/FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE CARDBOARD, ALL SURFACES MUST BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.

In plain English

Equipment, utensils, thermometers, cutting boards, or single-use items were not in good condition, not the right type, or not stored properly.

More about equipment or utensil issues

notedCode 48Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

Inspector’s notes

4-603.15 OBSERVED NO WRITTEN PROCEDURE FOR WASHING RINSING AND SANITIZING LARGE POTS THAT ARE LOCATED IN THE REAR MEAT PREP AREA WALK IN COOLER. 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 problems

notedCode 49Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

4-601.11(C) OBSERVED DEEP DARK GROOVES/STAINS ON THE CUTTING BOARDS IN THE DELI/MEAT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE GROOVES AND STAINS OR REPLACE CUTTING BOARDS.

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 problems

notedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

6-501.114 OBSERVED CLUTTER IN THE REAR BY THE EXIT DOOR. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE UNNECESSARY CLUTTER AND ORGANIZE.

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 problems

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Aug 14, 2025 · Original Source

Canvass

Nov 20, 2024

Pass

7 recorded violations

notedCode 48Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED NO DRAINBOARD ON 3-COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE DRAINBOARD FOR PROPER DRYING OF MULTI-USE EQUIPMENT AND UTENSILS.

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 problems

notedCode 49Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED FOOD SPILLS AND DEBRIS ON INTERIOR SURFACES OF PREP TABLES, CUTTING BOARDS, SHELVING UNITS, COOLERS, FREEZERS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO 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 problems

notedCode 16Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED RESIDUE ON INTERIOR SUFACES OF ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO 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 problems

notedCode 37Food source and labeling

Official wording

FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED PACKAGED SALSA DISPLAYED FOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND NOT PROPERLY LABELED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROPERLY LABEL ALL PACKAGED SALSA WITH INGREDIENTS, BUSINESS NAME AND ADDRESS.

In plain English

Food came from an unapproved source, was missing required date marks or labels, or was past its use-by date. Knowing where food came from and how old it is helps prevent illness.

More about food source, dating, or labeling problems

notedCode 40Employee health and hygiene

Official wording

PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED FOOD HANDLERS NOT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINTS. ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST WEAR EFFECTIVE HAIR RESTRAINTS.

In plain English

This covers things like hair restraints, jewelry, clean clothing, eating or drinking in food prep areas, touching ready-to-eat food with bare hands, or not having a sick-employee policy.

More about employee hygiene or health policy issues

notedCode 51Water, plumbing, and sewage

Official wording

PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED LEAKING FAUCET ON HAND WASHING SINK IN REAR MEAT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.

In plain English

The business had issues with hot or cold running water, plumbing, drains, backflow prevention, or sewage disposal. Some of these, like no hot water, can force a temporary closure until fixed.

More about water, plumbing, or sewage problems

notedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED UNUSED ARTICLES AND EQUIPMENT IN REAR STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE ALL UNNECESSARY ITEMS TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE.

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 problems

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Nov 20, 2024 · Original Source