Deficient Food Storage, Handling, and Kitchen Sanitation
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed multiple failures in food storage, handling, and kitchen sanitation. A refrigerator/freezer labeled as non-functional was found to contain three beef roasts thawing overnight, with the internal temperature reading 56°F, well above the safe threshold. The roasts were visibly bloated, and staff could not confirm how long the temperature had been elevated. Numerous items in chest freezers were found unlabeled, undated, and unsealed, including bags of cooked eggs, French fries, poultry meat, carrots, and tater tots. Spilled food was present inside the freezer, and staff interviews confirmed that proper labeling, dating, and sealing procedures were not consistently followed. Additionally, the dishwashing unit trap had significant debris buildup that was not cleared over multiple days. Further inspection revealed a leaking sink pipe under the kitchen sink, with a large bucket of foul-smelling water and black organic buildup, which had reportedly been an issue for months. Staff interviews indicated that the problem had been reported to management but was not resolved. In the dining area, an LPN was observed handling a resident's food with bare hands without hand hygiene before or after, contrary to facility policy and staff training. Policies reviewed required all foods to be covered, labeled, and dated, and mandated the use of barriers such as gloves when handling resident food, but these were not followed in practice.