Deficient Food Storage and Ice Machine Sanitation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to proper food storage and sanitation standards in two specific instances. First, during an observation in the dry storage area, a bag of tortillas was found left open at the top. The Dietary staff confirmed that the bag should not have been left open, as it could allow contaminants to enter and compromise the freshness and safety of the food. The facility's policy requires that food be stored in a manner that maintains the integrity of the packaging until use, and staff interviews confirmed that the open bag was not in compliance with these standards. Second, the kitchen ice machine was observed to have a pink tinged and dark substance inside the ice bin, which could be easily removed with a paper towel. The Maintenance Supervisor and DON acknowledged that these substances should not be present, as they could contaminate the ice. The facility's policy and the manufacturer's manual both require regular cleaning and maintenance of the ice machine to ensure a safe and sanitary supply of ice. These lapses in food storage and equipment sanitation had the potential to result in foodborne illness.