Failure to Air Dry Puree Equipment Prior to Use
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that equipment used to puree food items was properly air dried prior to use, as observed during meal preparation for two residents on a puree diet. During the observation, a cook immersed the pitcher blender into the wash, rinse, and sanitize sinks but did not allow the blender to air dry before using it to puree rice pilaf and then again before pureeing California blend vegetables. Both the Aramark Regional Director of Operations and the Dietary Manager confirmed during the observation that the expectation is for staff to air dry the blender prior to use to prevent food contamination, and expressed concern that this step was not followed. The two residents affected were on regular diet puree texture, with one resident having diagnoses including gastroesophageal reflux disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and the other with gastroesophageal reflux disease and dysphagia. One resident was cognitively intact, while the other was moderately impaired. Facility documentation, including in-service training materials and the puree process protocol, specified that equipment should be air dried before use for each menu item, but this procedure was not followed during the observed meal preparation.