Back Bay Sweetgreen closes for health code violations

BOSTON — A popular Back Bay eatery known for its soups and salads has closed its doors after being cited for health code violations.

The Sweetgreen on Boylston has been ordered to fix 20 issues that range from simple to critical.

"When something reaches this critical point, what we have to do is to work with them to get them in line with what the code requires," Commissioner Williams Christopher with Inspectional Services told FOX25.

Among the critical issues was that food handlers were not washing hands prior to putting on gloves. Among the non-critical was an employee preparing and giving out samples in the customer line.

Christopher said that some of the concerns are repeat violations and the eatery has been on their radar for about a year, as reported on the FOX25 News at 4.

"In this case we feel that there's a whole educational process that has to be put into place. They have to bring in a consultant to work with them because we think it's a systemic problem that has to be addressed," he said.

Sweetgreen is a growing national chain, but there have been hurdles in their growth in Boston. According to U.S. Food Safety, the city also flagged issues at the Congress Street location in 2014. Earlier this month,

FOX25 News reported that the chain's credit card-only policy violated state law that businesses must accept a cash option for payment.

"It's just reached the point where we're just not comfortable that the environment is not proper for the public to go in and eat," William told FOX25.

This is only a temporary permit suspension. Sweetgreen Back Bay will be allowed to re-open when the violations are corrected.

Cox Media Group