Failure to Remove Expired Food and Maintain Food Storage Standards
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to remove expired food items from storage areas and did not properly label or clean food storage bins. In the walk-in refrigerator, a sealed bag of pre-packaged chopped celery with a use by date that had passed was found on the second shelf. The Dietary Manager acknowledged that the celery should have been removed but had been overlooked. Additionally, in the dry food storage area, four loaves of bread were found with use by dates that had expired, and the Dietary Manager stated that she did not realize the bread needed to be dated when removed from the freezer. Further observations revealed that three large plastic storage bins containing flour, sugar, and rice were not labeled with open or use by dates. The bins' attached scoop holders contained food debris and other debris at the bottom, with the scoops directly touching the debris. The Dietary Manager stated that the bins and scoop holders were cleaned every 30 days when the contents expired, but she was unaware of the last time they had been cleaned. The Administrator confirmed that expired food should have been disposed of, bins should have been dated, and cleaning should have occurred as required.