Dishwasher Failed to Dispense Chlorine Sanitizer
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain its dishwasher in proper operating condition, resulting in the dishwasher not dispensing chlorine sanitizer at the required concentration. During an observation, the dishwasher's water temperature was found to be 120°F, but when the Dishwasher Aid checked the chlorine level using a testing strip, the strip did not change color, indicating that the chlorine concentration was not within the required 50-100 PPM range. This was confirmed by repeating the test, which again showed no color change. The Dishwasher Aid reported that the last successful check of the chlorine level was approximately three hours earlier, at which time the reading was 50 PPM. The Dietary Supervisor confirmed that the dishwasher was expected to sanitize foodware at all times and acknowledged that items cleaned after the last successful check might not have been properly sanitized. The facility's policy required chemical low temperature dish-machines to maintain a water temperature of 120°F-140°F and a chlorine concentration of 50-100 PPM. The deficiency was further substantiated by a technician's report, which found that the sanitizer line was not reaching the chlorine chemical, preventing proper sanitization.