Failure to Sanitize Dishes and Store Food Safely
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure proper food safety practices in two key areas: dish sanitization and canned food storage. During an initial kitchen tour, three dented cans of Salsa Para Enchiladas were found stored alongside other canned goods in the dry storage area. The dents were located at the seams, and the Dietary Manager acknowledged that staff had missed these defects during storage. Additionally, the dishwashing process was observed to be deficient. The dish machine, which uses chlorine as a chemical sanitizer, was not dispensing sanitizer as required. When tested with a chlorine test strip, no sanitizer was detected, and dietary staff admitted they had not tested the machine prior to washing dishes after breakfast. The dish machine log confirmed that required checks for wash temperature and chlorine concentration were not completed for that meal service. The posted requirements on the dish machine specified a minimum chlorine concentration of 50 parts per million (ppm), but this standard was not met during the observed cycle. The operation manual for the dish machine also emphasized the importance of proper sanitizer concentration and regular testing. The facility census at the time was 88 residents, all of whom received food prepared in the kitchen. No residents were on NPO status. The failure to properly sanitize dishes and to separate dented cans from usable stock directly affected all residents receiving meals from the facility kitchen.