Failure to Store and Label Food According to Professional Standards
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to store, prepare, distribute, and serve food in accordance with professional standards for food safety in the facility's only kitchen. Specifically, a plastic container with breadcrumbs was found uncovered and unlabeled on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. Additionally, a package of blueberries was observed sitting on top of premade pies, with only parchment paper separating the items, and the parchment paper was in direct contact with the pie crust. Staff interviews confirmed that food items should be covered, labeled, and dated, and that each pie should have been individually wrapped to prevent contamination. The facility's Food Storage policy requires all refrigerated foods to be dated, labeled, and tightly sealed in approved containers, and the U.S. Public Health Service Food Code mandates protection of food from contamination and proper date marking. The Dietary Manager acknowledged that the observed practices did not meet these standards and identified the risk of contamination. The DON and Administrator both stated that staff are expected to follow food storage and handling procedures, but could not specify the risks associated with non-compliance. No specific residents were identified as being directly affected at the time of the deficiency.