Failure to Properly Store, Label, and Date Food Items and Ensure Employee Hygiene
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure proper food storage, labeling, dating, and employee hygiene practices in the kitchen and unit refrigerators. Observations revealed multiple open food items in the walk-in cooler and freezer, such as a container of bananas foster, a bag of parsley, strawberries, and corn, that were not labeled or dated. Additionally, leftover salads and fruit cocktail were left uncovered and undated on a cart adjacent to the tray line, and these items were not properly stored or discarded. The Dietary Manager confirmed that these practices did not align with facility policy, which requires all leftovers and opened produce to be labeled, dated, and covered. Furthermore, a Certified Nurse Aide was observed in the kitchen without a hairnet, contrary to the facility's hygiene policy. Additional observations in unit refrigerators showed containers of grapes, cheese and crackers, and other food items without labels or dates, some of which belonged to residents and others to staff. Items such as ice cream and a candy bar were also found without proper labeling or dating. Staff interviews confirmed that all items should be labeled with the resident's name and date, and that staff should not store personal food in resident-designated refrigerators. The facility's policies on food preparation, handling, and storage were not followed, resulting in the deficiency affecting all residents served by the kitchen.