The cafeteria at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago had its license suspended Oct. 16 for a failed health inspection due to a cockroach infestation, the Chicago Department of Public Health confirmed to Becker’s.
Inspectors observed more than 200 live cockroaches in multiple areas, including food preparation areas, the grill and deep fryer areas, dry storage and the main dish room, according to the department’s inspection record, which lists the location as the cafeteria and patient kitchen. The record also documented black slime buildup in an ice machine dripping onto ice used for human consumption, and said violations from an April 15 inspection, including dead cockroaches, had not been corrected.
“We recognize the importance of maintaining the highest standards for food safety and are taking the necessary steps to address the findings and meet all requirements to safely resume kitchen operations,” the hospital and Morrison Healthcare, its contracted food service provider, said in a joint statement shared with Becker’s. “In the meantime, patients continue to receive meals without interruption, with alternative food preparation and meal service arrangements in place.”
Patients are being fed from an approved alternative food source, and the cafeteria can request a re-inspection once the violations are corrected, the department said. As of Oct. 19, the hospital had not given a timeline for reopening. Advocate Illinois Masonic is part of Charlotte, N.C.-based Advocate Health.
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 12:39 p.m. CDT Oct. 20 to include information from the Chicago Department of Public Health.
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