Food
Read more about the article Former Meals on Wheels recipient finds joy in volunteeringJanelle O'Dea/CU-CitizenAccess.org
Meals on Wheels volunteer Jerry Call makes a delivery on the "Pink Route" in Urbana, Ill., on March 18, 2014.

Former Meals on Wheels recipient finds joy in volunteering

By Janelle O’Dea/ CU-CitizenAccess.org - Meals on Wheels in Champaign-Urbana, Ill., provides hot lunches and sack suppers for a small cost to adult recipients…

Continue ReadingFormer Meals on Wheels recipient finds joy in volunteering
Read more about the article Outside Chambana, posting placards is voluntary
The photo illustration shows examples of health inspection compliance posters required to be prominently displayed in food establishments within the Champaign-Urbana city limits. The posters indicate to the public the results of the latest health inspection. The Champaign County Board struck down the proposal in an 11-9 vote to expand the mandate throughout the county.

Outside Chambana, posting placards is voluntary

Anyone entering the Culver's on Neil Street in Champaign will immediately see a placard showing the results of the restaurant's most recent food inspection. Drive one mile south to the Burger King in Savoy, and there is no placard displayed.

Continue ReadingOutside Chambana, posting placards is voluntary
Read more about the article First quarter brings two closures, 18 restaurant failuresClaire Everett
Firehaus, located at 708 S. Sixth St., Champaign, in the afternoon on April 25, 2014. Firehaus was closed after failing their restaurant inspection with an adjusted score of -19 on March 19 and reopened March 21 with an adjusted score of 90.

First quarter brings two closures, 18 restaurant failures

One Champaign restaurant was shut down for 37 violations during the first part of the year under the health department’s new placard system. Firehaus's…

Continue ReadingFirst quarter brings two closures, 18 restaurant failures
Read more about the article Yellow placards go missing in first six months of new systemClaire Everett
Empire Chinese Restaurant's satisfactory compliance placard, 410 E. Green St., Champaign, April 25, 2014. The restaurant failed its health inspection on March 25 with an adjusted score of 21 and five critical violations but was allowed to correct enough to earn a green placard.

Yellow placards go missing in first six months of new system

Nearly two dozen restaurants in Champaign-Urbana have failed health inspections during the past three months. But most customers would not know that, despite new requirements that restaurants post results of their inspections.

Continue ReadingYellow placards go missing in first six months of new system
Read more about the article Restaurant inspections – there’s an app for that!
CU-CitizenAccess.org's mobile-friendly app allows users to easily search for a restaurant inspection report. Type a restaurant's name in the search box to see all reports from 2008 to the present.

Restaurant inspections – there’s an app for that!

Heading out to eat and undecided about where to go? CU-CitizenAccess.org's new app could provide you with information to help you make that choice.

Continue ReadingRestaurant inspections – there’s an app for that!
Read more about the article How to find restaurant inspections at the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District web siteCU-CitizenAccess.org
This is a screenshot of the homepage of the Champaign Urbana Public Health District website at www.c-uphd.org.

How to find restaurant inspections at the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District web site

In September 2014, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District – after years of planning – created a website where citizens could look up restaurant inspection reports in Champaign County. Reports for more than 1,000 restaurants are available on the site, which is constantly updated and go back to 2008.

Continue ReadingHow to find restaurant inspections at the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District web site
Read more about the article Health inspectors temporarily close five eateries; fail four othersDarrell Hoemann
The exterior of Chop Stixs restaurant in Champaign on Wednesday, January 21, 2015. The restaurant failed a re-inspection in December 2013 and was closed from Dec. 1 until it passed a second re-inspection on Dec. 8 with an adjusted score of 90.

Health inspectors temporarily close five eateries; fail four others

Nine restaurants and eateries have failed health inspections since November, including five that were temporarily shut down. At some of the restaurants public health inspectors found dozens of critical violations that included raw sewage on the floor, potentially hazardous food production and dishwasher malfunctions.

Continue ReadingHealth inspectors temporarily close five eateries; fail four others
Read more about the article Moldy Cool Whip, a baby cockroach, and warm raw meat among violations found in 11 area restaurantsContributed/Champaign-Urbana Public Health District
A draft version of a reinspection notice. Public health officials are drafting ordinances that would require food establishments to post a color-coded placard that indicates the results of each health inspection. Yellow means the food establishment failed its health inspection with an adjusted score below 36 and but can remain open pending a reinspection within 30 days.

Moldy Cool Whip, a baby cockroach, and warm raw meat among violations found in 11 area restaurants

By  Pamela G. Dempsey/CU-CitizenAccess.org -- Eleven restaurants failed health inspections in October, with critical violations ranging from employees not washing hands to potentially hazardous foods out…

Continue ReadingMoldy Cool Whip, a baby cockroach, and warm raw meat among violations found in 11 area restaurants
Read more about the article Local health department aims to roll out online inspection reports in the new yearPhoto provided/The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District
Example of a color-coded placard that restaurants would be required to post under a proposed plan to make inspection results more public. Red means that the restaurant's health permit was suspended following a health inspection.

Local health department aims to roll out online inspection reports in the new year

By Pamela G. Dempsey/CU-CitizenAccess -- Champaign public health officials are once again aiming for a Jan. 1 target date to post restaurant inspection reports…

Continue ReadingLocal health department aims to roll out online inspection reports in the new year