I, for one, had never heard of "drain fly" until I got an email from the Chicago Department of Public Health this afternoon. Not good.
Southwest Side Pizzeria Shut By City Health Department
Infestation of Drain Flies UnacceptableA Southwest Side pizzeria was ordered closed today after Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) inspectors discovered an infestation of drain flies.
Today’s inspection of Little Caesars, 10259 S. Western, was triggered by a customer who called 311 to report findings bugs in his pizza.
Inspectors found over 100 live drain flies on the premises, including on unbaked pizzas, breadsticks, and in pizza dough. CDPH inspectors ordered Little Caesars management to discard nine pizzas, six breadsticks and a quantity of pizza dough that had been compromised by the insects.
CDPH also cited the pizzeria for failing to supply soap at a hand washing sink in the kitchen and at the employee restroom.
Finally, Little Caesars was ticketed for both outside and inside garbage containers that were overflowing with trash.
The pizzeria will remain closed until its management has taken corrective action and passed re-inspection.
The enforcement action was the 179th time in 2008 that Health Department inspectors have shut a food establishment for violations of the Chicago Health Code.
Representatives of Little Caesars will have to explain themselves at an administrative hearing on October 30 and pay a fine expected to total $1,750.
Chicagoans who believe that a pizzeria or other food establishment is operating in an unsafe manner are encouraged to dial 311 and report it.