Failure to Store, Label, and Monitor Food According to Professional Standards
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to store and distribute food in accordance with professional standards for food service safety. During observations in the kitchen, surveyors found a large clear plastic container with a red gelatinous substance in the refrigerator that lacked any labels to identify the product, its open date, or expiration date. Additionally, a large opened container of mayonnaise was found in the same refrigerator without an open date or expiration date. The Dietary Manager confirmed that both items should have been labeled to prevent serving expired foods. During lunch tray line service, the cook did not take the temperature of a tray of cauliflower after removing it from the oven, which the Dietary Manager acknowledged should have been done to ensure food safety. In a resident's room, a bowl containing cooked, perishable cabbage and onions was found on the bedside table without any labeling or dating. The resident stated that the food had been brought in by a family member the previous day and had remained at the bedside since then. The resident was assessed as cognitively intact and had a medical history including generalized muscle weakness, unspecified fracture of the left pubis, history of falling, and vitamin D deficiency. Facility staff, including the Assistant Director of Nursing, Registered Dietitian, and Director of Nursing, all confirmed that perishable or cooked food should not be left out and should be discarded after consumption, as prolonged exposure could lead to bacterial growth and foodborne illness. Review of facility policies and state regulations indicated that all food should be stored in a manner to prevent contamination, with proper labeling, dating, and temperature control. The facility's policy for food brought in from outside sources required that prepared food be consumed within one hour after removal from temperature control, with any unused food disposed of immediately. Staff interviews confirmed that these policies were not followed in the instances observed, resulting in the deficiencies cited.