Read more about the article Health inspectors failed about 80 restaurants and closed 10 last year in Champaign County; Some restaurants repeatedly failed for weeks
Ambar India on Nov. 13, 2023. Photo by Maggie Knutte.

Health inspectors failed about 80 restaurants and closed 10 last year in Champaign County; Some restaurants repeatedly failed for weeks

A moldy bell pepper.  Bare hands touching ready-to-eat food. Food that expired over a week ago sitting in the fridge. These are just a…

Continue ReadingHealth inspectors failed about 80 restaurants and closed 10 last year in Champaign County; Some restaurants repeatedly failed for weeks
Read more about the article Over 100 restaurants failed inspections in Champaign County in the past two years, but failures hard to find in online database
Ambar India on Wright Street in Urbana received a red placard in January 2021. Screenshot from Google Street View.

Over 100 restaurants failed inspections in Champaign County in the past two years, but failures hard to find in online database

After a routine inspection, only 10 restaurants were closed due to non-compliance with safety regulations and 116 restaurants received food safety alerts for less…

Continue ReadingOver 100 restaurants failed inspections in Champaign County in the past two years, but failures hard to find in online database
Read more about the article Restaurants, religious organizations among top local industries that received PPP loans
Source: U.S. Farm Credit Administration

Restaurants, religious organizations among top local industries that received PPP loans

The Small Business Administration released more data about businesses who received Paycheck Protection Program loans under $150,000. Previously, the SBA did not release business names for businesses that received loans under $150,000.

Continue ReadingRestaurants, religious organizations among top local industries that received PPP loans

Health data shows private homes, restaurants and bars, and hospitals and clinics are top sources of new infections

Outside of private homes, bars and restaurants have been the largest source of COVID-19 exposures among cases in Champaign County, according to data from the health district. In November and thus far in December, hospitals or clinics were the top source of COVID-19 exposure. The health district’s graphic shows 26% of reported COVID-19 cases - or 23 cases - within Champaign County were tied to a hospital or clinic in December. There were 112 cases tied to a hospital or clinic in November.

Continue ReadingHealth data shows private homes, restaurants and bars, and hospitals and clinics are top sources of new infections
Read more about the article Six food establishments closed for not paying, renewing permits
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Six food establishments closed for not paying, renewing permits

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.

Continue ReadingSix food establishments closed for not paying, renewing permits
Read more about the article Health inspectors temporarily shut down seven Champaign County restaurants, failed seven othersphoto by Darrell Hoemann/CU- CitizenAccess.org
Ichiban Buffett, 105 N. Mattis, Champaign, Illinois on Tuesday, June 2, 2015.

Health inspectors temporarily shut down seven Champaign County restaurants, failed seven others

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.

Continue ReadingHealth inspectors temporarily shut down seven Champaign County restaurants, failed seven others
Read more about the article Complaints about restaurants on the riseChampaign Urbana Public Health Department
Photograph submitted to the Champaign Urbana Public Health Department within a complaint about "a clump of hair attached to another object," found in the bottom of a cup, July 15, 2014.

Complaints about restaurants on the rise

Clumps of hair at the bottom of coffee cups and green slime leaking out of meat sandwiches were among the more extreme examples of complaints filed by customers and restaurant employees against food establishments this year.

Continue ReadingComplaints about restaurants on the rise
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