Failure to Follow Standardized Recipes and Portion Sizes for Modified Diets
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that standardized recipes and portion sizes were followed for residents on modified diets during a lunch service. Specifically, the cook used a smaller scoop than required, resulting in residents on ground texture diets receiving 2 2/3 ounces of BBQ chicken instead of the 3 ounces specified in the menu. The cook admitted to not consulting the food portion and serving guide, leading to the incorrect portion being served. The dietary supervisor confirmed that the wrong scoop was used and that residents on ground diets received less food than those on regular diets. Additionally, residents on mechanical soft diets received BBQ chicken that was cut into inconsistent sizes rather than being ground as required by the menu and recipe. The mechanical soft and regular chicken were served from the same tray, and the mechanical soft chicken was not prepared to the correct texture. Both the cook and the dietary supervisor acknowledged that the menu and spreadsheet were not followed, and the registered dietitian verified that the recipe called for ground chicken, not cut pieces. The speech therapist emphasized the importance of following the correct texture for residents with chewing or swallowing difficulties. For residents on pureed diets, the facility did not follow the recipe for pureed BBQ chicken. Instead of blending the BBQ sauce with the chicken, the cook served plain pureed chicken with BBQ sauce poured on top. The dietary supervisor stated that this did not meet the recipe requirements and could lead to meal dissatisfaction. Review of facility policies and job descriptions confirmed that staff are required to follow standardized recipes and portion control procedures for all therapeutic diets.