Failure to Maintain Safe Food Storage Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to store perishable food items in a sanitary manner, as evidenced by the walk-in refrigerator maintaining temperatures above the safe range of 35-41 degrees Fahrenheit for several days. On multiple occasions, the internal thermometer of the walk-in refrigerator registered temperatures as high as 55 degrees Fahrenheit, with perishable items such as sliced ham and chicken salad also found at unsafe temperatures. This issue persisted from April 4, 2025, to April 8, 2025, without being adequately addressed, posing a risk of food-borne illness to all residents. The Dietary Manager (DM) acknowledged the temperature discrepancies and admitted to not checking the temperature log due to being busy. Despite the temperature log indicating a pattern of unsafe temperatures, the issue was not escalated to the Maintenance Director until April 8, 2025. The Assistant Dietary Manager and other kitchen staff were aware of the temperature issues but failed to ensure that maintenance was properly notified and that corrective actions were taken. The Maintenance Assistant did not recall being informed of the issue, and the Maintenance Director was only made aware on April 8, 2025, when a service company was called to address the problem. The facility's policy required that refrigerator temperatures be checked and recorded daily, with any deviations reported immediately to the Dietary Manager or maintenance. However, this protocol was not followed, leading to a delay in addressing the malfunctioning refrigerator. The Registered Dietician confirmed that storing food above 41 degrees Fahrenheit could allow harmful bacteria to grow, potentially causing nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea in residents consuming the spoiled food.