Unsanitary Conditions in Facility's Main Kitchen
Penalty
Summary
During a recertification survey, the facility's main kitchen was found to have several deficiencies in maintaining sanitary conditions for food storage, preparation, distribution, and service. Observations revealed rusty shelves in the walk-in cooler, pet beds stored under dry storage room racks, and clean dishware stored in a soiled pan by the hand sink. Additionally, the hand sink was improperly secured with bare wood, and there was a leaking plumbing issue under the 3-bay sink, which had been ongoing for a year. The walk-in freezer had icing on the compressor lines, and there was uncertainty about whether a work order had been placed to address this issue. Interviews with staff, including the General Manager and a kitchen worker, confirmed these unsanitary conditions. The General Manager acknowledged that the rusty shelves and bare wood were not easily cleanable and that pets were not allowed in the kitchen or storage rooms to prevent contamination. The kitchen worker admitted to using the preparation sink for washing dishes due to the unavailability of proper facilities. These conditions were in violation of the facility's policy on sanitary conditions and posed a risk of food contamination and compromised food safety.
Plan Of Correction
Plan of Correction: Approved March 14, 2025 Corrective Actions: The rusty shelves in the walk-in cooler have been sanded and painted. The pet beds in the dry storage area have been removed and the door remains closed to prevent them from entering. The clean dishware in pan was removed from the hand sink, rewashed and stored in their appropriate area. The hand sink was replaced and is secured properly to the wall. The leaking was fixed under the 3-bay sink. The service vendor was contacted to address the icing on the walk-in freezer lines. The dietary employees responsible for washing dishes received re-education from the dietary manager on how and where to wash and store dirty and clean dishes. All kitchen staff will be retrained on cleaning and maintaining a sanitary environment. The Dietary Manager updated the daily cleaning schedule to ensure the kitchen is maintained within sanitary conditions. An environmental audit of the kitchen will occur monthly with the Dietary Manager and Director of Environmental Services to ensure the walk-in cooler and plumbing are working efficiently. The audit will include kitchen and food storage areas to ensure proper functioning of equipment and identification of unsanitary conditions. The audit will be reviewed quarterly with the Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement Committee for 1 year to ensure compliance. Date of Correction: 3/7/2025 Person Responsible for Deficiency: Dietary Manager and Director of Environmental Services