Food Safety Deficiencies in Kitchen Operations
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that food was stored, prepared, and served in accordance with professional standards for food service safety. During a tour of the Food Service Department, several deficiencies were observed. In the walk-in freezer, two tortillas were found loosely wrapped in plastic wrap without any dates, indicating improper labeling and storage practices. In the dry storage room, juices used for the juice machine were stored improperly; two juice bags were removed from their box and placed directly on a visibly dirty and dusty metal rack. Additionally, one juice bag was not connected, and its tubing was found on the floor with stagnant juice inside, suggesting a lack of proper sanitation and maintenance. Further observations revealed that the drainpipe behind the ice machine was placed directly into the floor drain without an air gap, which is necessary to prevent sewer water backup. This lack of an air gap between the ice machine's drain point and the facility's drain access point poses a potential contamination risk. These observations were confirmed by the Food Service Director during the kitchen tour, highlighting the facility's failure to adhere to food safety requirements.
Plan Of Correction
1. Tortillas unwrapped with no dates were immediately discarded. Two juice bags that were placed on a dirty shelf were discarded and the rack cleaned. The juice tubbing that was not hooked up was cleaned and wrapped in plastic till replaced with another one. The drainpipe behind the ice machine that was placed directly into the floor drain with no air gap was immediately fixed. 2. All other areas rounded to ensure no further concerns. 3. Education provided to Dietary Staff on properly storing food, dating food, properly storing juice bags, ensuring racks are cleaned, what to do if juice runs out and there is not another to replace, and that there must be an air gap between the ice machine and drain access. 4. Random audits by the Administrator/designee to ensure food is properly stored, dated, juice bags being stored properly, racks cleaned, juice tubbing that is not hooked up maintained properly, and that there is an air gap between the ice machine and drain once a week for one month, twice a week for one month, and once a month for one month. The findings of the audits will be brought to the monthly Quality Assurance Improvement Committee (QAPI) meeting monthly for a period of three months. Any revisions to the audit plan will be reviewed and implemented with coordination of the interdisciplinary team at the QAPI Committee meeting.