Deficient Food Storage and Sanitation Practices in Kitchen
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain safe and sanitary food storage practices in the kitchen, as evidenced by several observations and interviews. There were no temperature logs for two refrigerators, and one refrigerator lacked a thermometer, making it impossible to verify that perishable foods were stored at safe temperatures. Additionally, a container of black beans was found in the refrigerator past its use-by date, and the ice machine scoop did not have a cleaning log to document when it was last sanitized. Staff food items were also found stored in a refrigerator designated for residents, contrary to facility policy. These deficiencies were confirmed through interviews with the Registered Dietician, who acknowledged the lack of documentation and the presence of expired food and staff items in resident storage areas. The facility's policies require proper food storage, temperature monitoring, and separation of staff and resident food to prevent contamination, but these procedures were not followed. All 56 residents who received food from the kitchen were potentially affected by these lapses.