The inspection files: '40 live roaches scamper by'

Excerpts from Mayor Daley's Dumpster Task Force releases

Here are some excerpts from press releases issued by Mayor Daley's Task Force and written by Matt Smith. (Read more about Smith.) "Mayor Daley created the Dumpster Task Force in 1994 as a way to deal more aggressively with food handling establishments that had problems with exterior sanitation," according to the releases. "If problems existed on the outside there was a good chance inspectors could find similar problems on the inside. And if those problems were deemed to pose a potential threat to their customers, that establishment would be promptly closed."

February 22, 2008

... The highlight of the visit came when inspectors saw a live mouse spring from the bamboo leaves display and sprint past them. The low-light came when they found another mouse that was much less fortunate...it left this world on a glue board.

"While this establishment is known for its live seafood displays, our inspectors found first hand evidence of other living creatures that you don't want to ever find in a neighborhood grocer," said Josie Cruz, Deputy Commissioner of Streets & Sanitation's Bureau of Rodent Control which operates the Mayor's Task Force. ...

August 8, 2008

... When the Task Force returned on August 8, 2008 they found more than 300 mice droppings on top of bags of basmati rice and chicken breading mix, discovered live insects inside a bag of basmati rice and witnessed a parade of 40 live roaches scamper by. It was clear to inspectors that management was in non-compliance and they were swiftly shut down for the critical violations of continued non-compliance on pest control issues and for failing to maintain food in a safe condition.

"Management had an opportunity to correct their pest problems and remain open but their failure to do that led to their closure," said Deputy Commissioner Josie Cruz, head of Streets & San's Bureau of Rodent Control which operates the Mayor's Task Force. "When we see this much pestilence in such a small area it's clear that the situation had gotten completely out of hand!" ...

July 17, 2007

CONDITIONS AT FORTUNE COOKIE FACTORY MOST UNFORTUNATE

... For most, a fortune cookie provides a welcomed opportunity to see what good news the future holds. For Mayor Daley's Dumpster Task Force, a factory full of fortune cookies, filth and pestilence provided nothing but bad fortune ...

July 15, 2008

... "The problems at Luck Foods were bad enough to sustain two different species of pests," noted Josie Cruz, Deputy Commissioner of Streets & Sanitation's Bureau of Rodent Control which operates the Mayor's Dumpster Task Force. "In addition to spotting live roaches and seeing the signs of mice infestation, our inspectors found ham and sausage and ham and cheese sandwiches being sold at the counter at room temperature which is never a good thing, especially on a hot Summer day." ...

June 9, 2008

... There was a yellow slime in the ice machine. And the restaurant was storing food at unsafe temperatures and voluntarily disposed of over 1,000 pounds of food. ...

June 10, 2008

FAMILY DOLLAR DOESN'T MAKE CHANGE, CLOSED BY DUMPSTER TASK FORCE

... They also found a decaying mouse underneath an electrical box. They store remained in filthy condition and that same brown residue was still in place on the floor. ...

March 27, 2008

... Inspectors visited this establishment Thursday following a complaint in the area and spotted as many as 150 flying insects pretty much everywhere they looked. This included on donuts, counters , walls, inside plastic coverings on an empty donut cart and they even saw two dead flies on the inner ledge of freezer where employees scoop ice cream. ...

April 17, 2006

TASK FORCE FINDS OODLES OF DOODLES IN 63RD'S NOODLES

... Ironically, the store was identified only as "Food" from the outside. Inside mice showed evidence of reading comprehension by gnawing into food items such as ramen noodles, nacho cheese tortilla chips and plain potato chips. They also left behind numerous feces in several violated food packages. More than 200 total mice droppings were found there, in display boxes and on the floor of the food storage room. ...