Failure to Maintain Sanitary Food Service and Proper Food Storage
Penalty
Summary
Staff failed to maintain sanitary conditions during food service, as observed when a dietary aide handled a trash can lid and then, without performing hand hygiene, proceeded to prepare and serve a hot beverage to a resident. The aide touched the handle of a cup, filled it with water, added hot chocolate mix, and stirred the drink with a straw, all after touching the trash can lid. The same hand was used to handle a scoop for powdered thickener, which was then placed back into the container without handwashing, and the prepared drink was served to a resident with the same straw. These actions were in direct violation of the facility's policy requiring hand hygiene after handling soiled equipment and before food preparation. Additionally, improper food storage practices were observed, including expired milk being used for meal preparation, open and unlabeled food items in the refrigerator and freezers, and dry goods stored in containers that were not properly sealed, labeled, or dated. The cook acknowledged using milk past its best by date, and the dietary manager confirmed the presence of unlabeled, undated, and expired food items. Facility policies required all food to be labeled, dated, and securely stored, which was not followed.