Failure to Date Mark Opened and Thawed Food Items in Dietary Services
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to maintain a safe and sanitary environment for food storage, preparation, and distribution, as required by professional standards and facility policy. Specifically, food items such as milk, mandarin oranges, barbecue sauce, and magic cups were found to be opened or removed from their original packaging without being labeled with open or thaw dates. The facility's policy requires all opened or prepared food to be clearly marked with the date by which it should be consumed or discarded, and for the head cook or designee to check the refrigerator daily for expiring items. During interviews, the Dietary Manager acknowledged that magic cups should be labeled with thaw dates and all opened food or drink should have open dates, but was unable to confirm when the observed items had been opened or thawed. The Nursing Home Administrator and Director of Nursing also confirmed that food removed from manufacturer packaging and opened milk should be labeled with use by or open dates, and that magic cups require thaw dates. These lapses in date marking and labeling were observed to have the potential to affect all 41 residents in the facility.