Failure to Label Opened Food Items in Kitchen
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to ensure safe and sanitary food storage and preparation practices in the kitchen. Specifically, during a kitchen tour, a large box of sausage, a large box of bacon, and a large open carton of eggs were found unsealed and without an open or use by date written on them inside a refrigerator. The Dietary Clerk confirmed that the cook is responsible for labeling these items and acknowledged that the boxes and carton were not labeled with an open or best by date. The Dietary Clerk also stated that without an open date, the facility would not know if the food is safe to serve. The Food and Nutrition Director stated that every food item received must have a received and best by date, and every food item opened must have an open date to prevent foodborne illnesses. A review of the facility's policy and procedure on food storage indicated that food should be stored in a safe and sanitary manner to prevent contamination and that items should be rotated so the oldest dates are used first. The failure to label these food items had the potential to result in harmful bacteria growth and cross contamination, affecting at least one medically compromised resident who receives food from the kitchen.