
As health inspections change, departments debate enforcement
Starting July 1, inspections will change.
Starting July 1, inspections will change.
A moldy ice chute, food preparation areas with pesticides stored above them and storage coolers occupied by houseflies and moths were among the worst violations leading to closures and failures of eateries across the county since July. In total, 18 establishments were closed or failed inspections for serious health code violations between July 1 and Sept. 30, according to a review of inspection records.
Health inspectors shut down the cafeteria at Presence Covenant Medical Center, 1400 W. Park St., Urbana, on May 10 after they noted a repeated critical violation – sewage wastewater backing up from the floor drain underneath a hand sink into the grill area.
Sewage wastewater backup, cockroach infestation and houseflies “too numerous to count” were among the violations leading to closures and failures of eateries across the county since April. In total, 20 establishments were cited for serious or critical health code violations between April 1 and June 30, according to a review of inspection records.
Health officials shut down the food facility at The Champaign Country Club this month after inspectors found more than two dozen violations. The club received an adjusted score of negative 6 during the routine inspection on May 11 and was immediately closed, according to Champaign-Urbana Public Health District records. In its previous inspection on Dec. 9, the club was allowed to stay open with a score of 1, though it failed after an inspector cited it for seven critical violations and 24 non-critical violations.
Ants on the wall, a live cockroach next to a meat grinder, fruit flies “too numerous to count” and a bucket of bloody juice were some of the worst violations over a ten-month period in Champaign County restaurants. In total, 39 restaurants in Champaign County failed health inspections - several more than once – from June 2015 to April 2016, according to a review of inspection records. An additional 7 restaurants failed and were temporarily closed. Four others were closed because of non-payment of annual fees or missing paperwork
In the past four months, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District shut down seven restaurantsbecause of issues that put customers at risk. But it also shut down six food establishments because owners or managers did not pay health permit fees or submit a permit application. One restaurant is still closed.
A Champaign restaurant received one of the worst health inspection scores on record after inspectors found dried meat and blood on its wall in April. Inspectors closed Ichiban Buffet, located at 105 N. Mattis Avenue in Champaign, after it received a -56 out of 100 on its April 27 health inspection.
Restaurant complaints filed in Champaign County over the past six months have ranged from a restaurant running out of napkins to a cockroach crawling out of a customer’s food.
Restaurant goers in Champaign County can call the Champaign Urbana Public Health District at (217) 373-7900 to file a complaint against the business if it’s located in the twin cities, or (217) 363-3269 if it’s in the county.