Failure to Ensure Hygienic Practices During Meal Service
Penalty
Summary
Certified Nurse Aides (CNAs) were observed serving meals to residents without using any form of hair restraint or having their hair pulled back, which resulted in the potential for food contamination. Specifically, two CNAs had long, loose braided hair extensions that hung over their shoulders and down their backs, while another CNA with long natural hair was seen repositioning her hair behind her ears to prevent it from touching residents' food. Additionally, this CNA was observed wrapping silverware without wearing gloves and handling the eating surfaces of the utensils while wrapping them in napkins. Another CNA poured beverages and passed drinks to residents by holding the cups at the rim, rather than the base, increasing the risk of contamination. The Dietary Manager confirmed that staff should not have been handling the eating portions of the utensils and that gloves should have been worn during this process. The facility's provided policy, titled "Dress Code," was not specific to food service personnel and only stated that employees with long hair may be required to wear a hair net depending on their duty assignment or work area. The 2009 Michigan Modified Food Code requires food employees to wear hair restraints to prevent hair from contacting exposed food, clean equipment, utensils, linens, and unwrapped single-service articles. These observations affected 27 of the 28 residents who consumed food from the kitchen.