Food Safety and Sanitation Deficiencies in Dietary Services
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure food service staff adhered to current standards of practice for food safety in several key areas. Surveyors observed that staff did not consistently label, date, or monitor refrigerated and frozen foods, with expired items and items lacking expiration dates found in multiple refrigerators and freezers. Additionally, temperature logs for all refrigerators and freezers were incomplete, with missing entries for several days. The Dietary Manager confirmed these findings and acknowledged that expired food should be discarded and that failure to do so could result in residents becoming ill. In the dry storage area, surveyors observed the presence of fruit flies and flies, as well as improperly stored food items such as an uncovered container of sugar, unsealed boxes of instant hot cereal mix, and bags of oats and cereal with ripped openings. The Registered Dietician confirmed that these conditions could lead to food contamination and stated that expired food should be thrown out and food should be stored in sealed containers. Both the DM and RD confirmed the missing temperature log entries and agreed that temperatures should be checked and logged regularly. Additionally, staff failed to adhere to standards of practice regarding personal hygiene, as a dietary aide was observed assembling resident trays without wearing a beard net, with facial hair protruding from a face mask and later exposed while calling out tray orders over uncovered food. The RD confirmed that beard nets are required and that the facility had run out of them. Review of facility policy and the FDA Food Code indicated that all perishable food items must be properly stored, labeled, and dated, and that staff must wear appropriate hair restraints to prevent contamination.