Deficiencies in Food Storage and Sanitation Practices
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to professional standards for food service safety, as evidenced by several deficiencies in food storage and sanitation practices. Observations in the walk-in freezer revealed a plastic bag of pizza crusts that were not labeled or dated, contrary to the facility's policy requiring all items to have a received date and an expiration date. Additionally, there was a significant build-up of ice on the freezer's condenser, and a ceiling vent above the tray line in the kitchen was covered with a large accumulation of black debris and dust. The ice machine was found to have a pink, removable build-up on the top plastic piece and was dripping water onto the ice, indicating unsanitary conditions. Further observations in the kitchen showed that the ceiling vent above the tray line remained uncleaned, and the three-compartment sink contained water with utensils and pans drying on the counter. The facility's sanitizer log for January 2025 lacked documentation of the sanitizer strength for each meal from January 1 through January 17, 2025, which was confirmed by the Dietary Manager. These findings highlight the facility's failure to maintain sanitary conditions in food storage and preparation areas, as well as a lack of adherence to their own policies regarding food labeling and sanitation practices.
Plan Of Correction
Dietary manager immediately verified no other items in the walk-in freezer was not labeled and completed on the spot education to the dietary staff on recording chemical sanitizer strength. Both the ice storage machine and the kitchen vents were cleaned and the buildup of ice on the freezer condenser was removed. Administrator or designee educated all dietary staff on the policy for food storage and record keeping for the strength of chemical sanitizers. Administrator or designee educated both dietary staff and maintenance on cleaning of kitchen equipment and vents. Audits will be completed by dietary manager or designee 2 x week for 2 weeks and monthly for 2 months for food labeling and buildup of ice in the walk-in freezer. Audits of the record sheets for chemical sanitizer strength will be completed 2 x week for 2 weeks and monthly for 2 months to ensure documentation is accurate and available. Audits for the ice machine and kitchen ceiling vents will be completed weekly for 4 weeks then monthly for 2 months. All results of findings will be reported and trended through the facilities Quality Assurance Committee. Date of compliance 3/5/2025.