Failure to Properly Label, Date, and Dispose of Opened and Expired Food Items
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to store food in a sanitary manner in the kitchen, specifically regarding the labeling, dating, and disposal of opened and expired food items. During a kitchen inspection with the Certified Dietary Manager (CDM), several food items in the walk-in cooler, such as smoked turkey, cut up purple and white onions, premade chicken salad, and Virginia ham, were found either expired or lacking an opened on or use by date. Additionally, other items including leaf tarragon, ranch powder, red food coloring, and chopped chives were found open without proper labeling or had expired. The CDM confirmed during an interview that all opened food should be dated with the day it was opened and used within three days or discarded. The facility's policy, as provided by the Administrator, required all foods to be properly labeled and dated, and for prepared or opened food items to be discarded if left over for more than 72 hours. These observations and interviews demonstrated that the facility did not consistently follow its own food storage and labeling policies, potentially affecting all residents who received meals from the kitchen.