CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — A U of I residence hall’s dining room, a Champaign middle school, a food service provider for fraternities and sororities, and a chain restaurant in Rantoul all received less than satisfactory health inspections this week.

Newman Hall by Upper Crust

Newman Hall’s dining room received a yellow placard after it was inspected on Oct. 1. The U of I residence hall is located at 604 E Armory Ave. in Champaign.

During the inspection, there were 11 risk factor/intervention violations and three repeat risk factor/intervention violations.

10 or more “priority” items or “priority foundation” item violations were found. Priority items are items that help to prevent hazards associated with foodborne illness or injury. Priority foundation items help to support priority items. Some of these violations included:

• An employee picked a rag up off the ground and then used it to remove a food item from the oven.
• Cooked sausage began cooling around 10 a.m., but two hours into the cooling process, it was still 76°F
  • The facility used ineffective methods to rapidly cool (like cooling it in smaller portions, or cooling it uncovered)
• The facility struggled to hold certain foods at 41ºF or less
  • Marinara sauce, ground beef, and shredded cheese were stored inside the pizza make-table-cooler at 43-47°F
  • The inspector also found bean sprouts at 45.8°F and sliced pork at 58.9°F
  • A bulk bag of chocolate milk was 44°F inside the dispenser
• For the second time in a row, several foods were held past the required seven days
  • Black beans (9/8) and Deli (8/26) were located in a two-door cooler
  • Enchilada sauce stored in the walk-in cooler (9/16) was held beyond 7 days
• There was no hand soap inside the employee toilet room

The inspector also noted that due to the high number of violations found during the inspection, there was evidence that the person in charge was not able to make sure the facility was following the proper food code.

You can find a full list of the violations here.

If any of the priority or priority foundation violations are found at a follow-up inspection, then Newman Hall’s dining area will be closed and a red placard will be posted. The follow-up inspection will be done in about 10 business days.

Franklin Middle School

On Sept. 26, Franklin Middle School, located at 817 N Harris Ave. in Champaign was inspected and given a yellow placard. The inspector noted one risk factor/intervention violation and one repeat risk factor/intervention violation.

The main issue from the inspection stemmed from a violation that had been repeated multiple times.

For the fourth consecutive routine inspection in a row, certain foods in Franklin’s kitchen were not held at cold enough temperatures. This included:

• Several pans of precooked pancakes found between 70ºF and 72ºF
• Inside the salad bar, salad mix with chopped lettuce was at 49.1F, Pico de Gallo was at 43.5F, shredded cheddar cheese was at 51.0F and guacamole at 50.1F
• Inside a two-door cooler, salad mix with chopped lettuce was at 46.4F, Pico de Gallo was at 45.1F, and diced tomatoes were found at 48.5F

Since this was the fourth time the inspector noted this issue, a compliance meeting was scheduled and a yellow placard was posted.

Another issue that was noted during the inspection had to do with the equipment drains. The inspector found that the dish machine and sprayer sink drain lines extended into the collar placed on the floor drain grate — there was no air gap. Franklin will need to add a one-inch air gap by Oct. 10.

Campus Culinary Solutions

Campus Culinary Solutions received a red placard after its inspection on Sept. 25. Campus Culinary Solutions is a food service provider for both fraternities and sororities, based at 108 E Anthony Drive in Urbana. It was also chosen as Parkland College’s provider from August 2024 through May 31, 2027.

During its inspection, there were four risk factor/intervention violations and two repeat risk factor/intervention violations found.

But, the main issue found during the inspection was a lack of working equipment to keep food cold. The walk-in cooler’s temperature was sitting between 57ºF and 58ºF. Inside the cooler, chili butter, chili/spicy mayo, seitan and mini cheese cakes were all sitting above 41ºF. The walk-in cooler was condemned for use and a red placard was posted.

Other issues noted during the inspection included:

• Spoiled and moldy tomatoes in a pan inside the walk-in cooler
• Chili butter was held longer than seven days
• An unlabeled spray bottle of yellowish solution was found near the grease trap

The kitchen was closed at 1 p.m. on Sept. 25. All food handling, preparation, and service has paused and will remain paused until the walk-in cooler has been repaired and an inspector has verified that it is working again.

Dairy Queen

Dairy Queen, located at 1103 Klein Ave. in Rantoul, received a yellow placard after a follow-up inspection on Sept. 25.

According to the health inspection report, the restaurant was required to show proof that there was no cockroach activity in the building by Sept. 24. But, the pest control reports were not submitted in time. As a result, a yellow placard was posted.

Now, if corrections are not made to eliminate cockroaches and show two pest control reports (which are dated at least a week apart) by Oct. 8, Dairy Queen will receive a red placard.

To see other restaurant inspections in Champaign County, click here.