Failure to Properly Label, Date, and Discard Food Items in Storage
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified that the facility failed to follow its own policies regarding the labeling, dating, and discarding of food items in both refrigerated and dry storage areas. During multiple observations, expired food items such as pasta salad, lemon tea thickener, and cut lettuce were found in the walk-in refrigerator. Additionally, several food items, including tomato bisque soup, waffles, broccoli florets, chicken patties, and cornbread stuffing, were found either unsealed, undated, or unlabeled. The Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) confirmed that all staff were responsible for labeling and dating items before storage, but these procedures were not consistently followed. Further observations revealed that posted menus were out of date and that alternate menus were being offered. The CDM also acknowledged the use of Styrofoam takeout containers due to a broken dishwasher, with maintenance responsible for ordering the necessary part. The facility's policy required the use of the FIFO (first in, first out) method for food storage, but this was not consistently implemented. These deficiencies had the potential to affect 102 residents receiving an oral diet.