Failure to Maintain Sanitary Food Storage and Service Practices
Penalty
Summary
During an initial kitchen tour with the dietary manager, surveyors observed several unsanitary food storage and service practices. Specifically, two opened bottles of nectar-thick juice were found in the walk-in refrigerator without any date of opening, despite manufacturer instructions to use the product within 10 days after opening. Additionally, a container of nectar-thick orange juice covered with plastic wrap and a pitcher of nectar-thick milk were also present in the refrigerator without any date markings. These items were not stored in accordance with professional standards for food safety and handling. Further observation revealed that the dish dispenser in the tray line area lacked a cover, leaving clean dishes exposed to potential contaminants. The dietary manager confirmed during the tour that the department was expected to maintain sanitary conditions and that all foods should be properly dated and stored to prevent contamination and foodborne illness. These findings indicate a failure to follow established food safety protocols in the dietary services department.