Sanitation Deficiency in Food Handling
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure food was prepared and served under sanitary conditions in both the first and second-floor dining rooms. Observations revealed that Employee 7, a Dietary Aide, wore gloves while handling paper meal tickets and then used the same gloves to retrieve hamburger buns and touch cheese slices. Similarly, Employee 5, a Cook, was observed wearing gloves while touching paper meal tickets and then using the same gloves to handle hamburger buns and cheese slices. These actions were contrary to the facility's policy, which prohibits bare hand contact with food and requires gloves to be changed when they become contaminated. Additionally, during the lunch meal service, Employee 8, a Nurse Aide, was observed using her bare hands to slide a bun off a burger to add cheese, and Employee 6, another Nurse Aide, was seen touching residents' sandwiches with bare hands while assisting them. The Director of Nursing confirmed that staff should have used tongs and worn gloves when handling food. The Nursing Home Administrator also stated that staff should not touch resident food with bare hands, indicating a failure to adhere to professional standards for food service safety.
Plan Of Correction
1. E5, E6, E7 and E8 were provided education on using gloves or tongs when handling resident food. 2. Education will be provided by the DON/designee to the nursing and dietary staff on food handling. 3. An audit will be conducted by the DON or designee during 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches, and 2 dinners weekly x 4 weeks to ensure proper food handling during meal service. 4. Results of the audit will be taken to QAPI for review of findings and further interventions if indicated.