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- calendar_today October 20, 2026
Hospital Kitchen Closure Initiated After Health Department Inspection
The cafeteria and patient kitchen at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center were temporarily shut down after a recent health department inspection uncovered a cockroach infestation and other food safety violations. The closures affect the hospital's main food preparation and patient meal service areas.
Details From Health Department Inspection
On Friday, inspectors from the Chicago Department of Public Health visited Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, located in the 800 block of West Wellington Avenue in the Lakeview neighborhood. According to official reports, more than 200 cockroaches were found throughout the Rendezvous Cafeteria and the patient kitchen, including primary food prep and cooking areas.
Further sanitation violations were observed during the health department inspection. Inspectors noted the presence of black slime on ice bins, dirty cooking equipment, and improperly stored utensils. The combination of these issues led city officials to order a temporary kitchen shutdown pending cleaning compliance.
Immediate Steps Taken by the Hospital
In response to the kitchen closure, Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center officials released a statement addressing the findings. The statement emphasized the hospital's commitment to food safety and meeting all requirements necessary to resume operations.
"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. In the meantime, patients continue to receive meals without interruption, with alternative food preparation and meal service arrangements in place," a hospital spokesperson said Monday.
Ensuring Continued Patient Meals
Despite the kitchen shutdown, hospital officials assured the public and patients that meal service would not be interrupted. Alternative methods for preparing and serving patient meals were quickly enacted after the health department inspection findings. No lapse in meal provision was reported as the hospital worked to correct cited sanitation violations and improve food preparation hygiene.
Food Safety and Cleaning Compliance Moving Forward
It is currently unclear when the Advocate Illinois Masonic cafeteria and patient kitchen will reopen. The hospital is actively working to address the cockroach infestation, black slime, and other issues cited in the inspection. Full cleaning compliance and improved sanitation are required before food services can resume.
The Chicago Department of Public Health will determine when the hospital cafeteria and patient kitchen have met food safety standards and can safely reopen to serve the public and patients.
Source: wgntv.com.
