Improper Cleaning and Storage of Kitchenware
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that dietary staff failed to ensure proper cleaning and sanitization of resident cups, trays, and dishes in the kitchen. During the inspection, a dietary aide was seen removing trays, cups, and bowls from the dishwashing machine and storing them to air dry, despite visible food particles and residue remaining on the items. Some trays also had tape stuck to them, and the counter where clean dishes were placed was covered with food particles, including grains from breakfast cereal. The dietary aide admitted to returning visibly dirty dishes to be rewashed but did not notice other soiled items that were stored as clean. The dietary supervisor confirmed the presence of food residue and tape on the trays and acknowledged that the counter was contaminated with food particles from the dishes. Further interviews revealed that the dishwasher operator had not adequately scraped or rinsed the dishes before loading them into the dishwashing machine, resulting in grits and other food debris remaining on the trays and bowls after washing. The facility's policy required all utensils, counters, shelves, and equipment to be kept clean and in good repair, and the FDA Food Code specified that food debris should be scraped and, if necessary, pre-flushed or scrubbed before washing. These procedures were not followed, leading to improper cleaning and storage of kitchenware used by residents.