Inspections of Food Service and Retail Food Establishments will be performed at intervals required under their classification as either
“Category I”, “Category II”, and “Category III” as determined by the Health Authority. Additional follow up inspections (rechecks) and complaint investigations will be performed as often as necessary for the proper administration of the Illinois Food Laws.
(A) Access to Establishment. The Health Authority, after proper identification shall be permitted to enter, at any reasonable time, any food service establishment or retail food store within the County for the purpose of making inspections to determine compliance with this Code. They shall be permitted to examine the records of the establishment to obtain pertinent information pertaining to food and supplies purchased, received, or used and persons employed.
(B) Procedures for Reporting Inspection Findings. Whenever an inspection of a retail food establishment is made, the findings will be recorded on the appropriate food inspection form. This inspection report form will summarize the requirements of the Illinois Food Service Sanitation Code and will set forth a weighted point value for each requirement.
Inspection remarks shall be written to reference, by rule number, the section violated and will state the correction to be made. The rating score of the weighted point values of all violations subtracted from 100. A copy of the completed inspection report form will be furnished to the person in charge of the establishment at the conclusion of the inspection. The completed inspection report form is a public document and will be made available for public disclosure to any person who requests it.
A copy of the most recent Inspection Report of the establishment shall be displayed in a prominent location within the establishment, in such a manner as it may be easily observed by the consuming public. Failure to display the previous Inspection Report shall be a 5 point weighted item on the inspection.
(C) Correction of Violations. The completed inspection report form will specify a reasonable period of time for the correction of the violations found. The correction of the violations will be accomplished within the period specified in accordance with the following provisions:
- If an imminent health hazard exists, such as complete lack of refrigeration or sewage backup in the establishment, the establishment shall be required to cease operations until the violation has been abated.
- All violations of a 4 or 5 point weighted item shall be corrected as soon as possible. Follow-up (Recheck) inspections will be conducted to confirm correction.
- All 1 and 2 point weighted items shall be corrected as soon as possible.
- When the rating score of the establishment is less than 60, the establishment shall initiate corrective action on all identifiable violations within forty-eight (48) hours. One or more re-inspections (rechecks) will be conducted at reasonable time intervals to determine if correction action has been made.
(D) Service of Notices. Notices provided for under this Section shall be deemed to have been properly served when the original of the inspection report form or other notice has been delivered personally to the permit holder or person in charge, or such notice has been sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the last known address or the permit holder. A copy of such notice shall be filed with the records of the Health Authority.