CHAMPAIGN — The Bickford of Champaign assisted-living facility has had to close its kitchens after being cited by the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District for several violations, including recurring problems with pests and cross-contamination.
Environmental health specialist Rami Wilson wrote in an inspection report that the center’s food service was closed the morning of Sept. 5, and its health permit was suspended due to “an imminent health hazard/uncontrolled foodborne illness risk factors/or unsatisfactory compliance with local ordinance.”
“All food handling, preparation, and service must cease as of this time,” he wrote. “A red ‘Closed’ placard was posted at a location determined by the health officer.”
“Obviously, we take our residents’ health and safety very seriously, and we take the guidance from the health department seriously as well,” said Justin Stein, vice president of sales and marketing at Bickford Senior Living. “So we have engaged a professional cleaning company to make sure that the kitchen is fully up to standard, as per Illinois Department of (Public) Health guidelines.”
Stein said as the facility works to address the issues, the vice president of dining services is personally ordering meals from local catering companies and restaurants that meet the dietary standards of its residents.
“Residents are receiving the same level of nutrition that they would receive in our made-from-scratch kitchen,” Stein said. “So there’s been no disruption to dining services at all.”
The inspection report of Bickford’s kitchens noted eight violations, including four repeat violations in regards to proper hand-washing facilities, storage of “toxic substances,” proper food storage to prevent contamination and the presence of pests.
Among other things, Wilson noticed dead cockroaches “throughout the dry-storage room and the dish room,” rotten food stored among fresh items, improper storage of chemicals and evidence that hand-washing sinks were being used for other purposes.
He also noted that certain food items were stored improperly, leading to cross-contamination. For instance, “a large open (wrapped in Saran Wrap) ‘chub’ of ham was sitting in the same container as a raw log of ground beef. The blood from the raw ground beef was making direct contact with the deli ham. There was also a container of hot dogs sitting inside the same tub.”
This isn’t the first time Bickford has been cited by the health district; it also received yellow placards in March and August of this year and in August 2022.
According to the health district, a yellow posting indicates “less than satisfactory compliance.”
The Aug. 6 inspection found violations in “six or more of the eleven Foodborne Illness Risk Factors and Public Health Interventions categories,” Wilson wrote.
He said at the time that a follow-up inspection would be conducted, and repeat violations in these areas would result in a red placard and suspension of food service.
“The persons in charge did not demonstrate adequate food-safety knowledge based on the repeated violations as well as the additional violations cited during today’s follow-up inspection,” he said in his Sept. 5 report.
Stein said the cleaning company that has been brought in is working to not only meet but also exceed the requirements set by the state.
“We have a very robust corporate dining team, and we have sent out several specialists within the organization to help bring that kitchen back to compliance,” he added.
He could not give an estimate on when the kitchens would be able to reopen but felt confident that they would meet and exceed “the standards necessary to reopen.”
“We’re working in close partnership with the state, and we should be hearing back relatively soon on when we can schedule that reinspection,” Stein said.
Inspection reports can be accessed at c-uphd.org/food-inspection-reports.html.
