Deficient Food Storage, Sanitation, and Documentation in Dietary Services
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain the kitchen and food service areas in a manner that would prevent foodborne illness for all 162 residents receiving dietary services. Surveyors observed a leaking coffee station drainpipe wrapped in black tape, dripping into a container with brown liquid containing a gray furry film and white unidentifiable chunks. The stand mixer was found covered in plastic but had white and yellow crusted drips, and the vents over the stove had a visible layer of dust. The Dietary Director confirmed that the vents are cleaned quarterly by an outside company and that the mixer should have been cleaned after use. The leaking drainpipe had not been previously reported to maintenance. The ice machine lacked a cleaning log, and neither the Dietary Director nor the Administrator were aware of a cleaning schedule or policy for the ice machine. The Executive Director stated that an outside company cleans the ice machines but could not provide documentation of these services. In the walk-in cooler, several food items were found past their use-by dates, including prune juice and cottage cheese, and some items were not labeled with open or use-by dates. A container of cottage cheese was found with a bubbled lid and seal, and the Dietary Director acknowledged that food should be labeled and not used past the manufacturer’s date. Unit refrigerators on all three floors lacked temperature logs, and some logs that were provided showed temperatures above the required 41 degrees Fahrenheit with no documented corrective action. In dry storage, open bags of baking cocoa and food thickener were exposed to air, and dented cans of food were present. The Dietary Director stated that dented cans should be discarded and food items should be sealed to prevent contamination. Facility policies require proper maintenance, labeling, and storage of food, but these were not consistently followed.