Deficiencies in Food Storage, Staff Hygiene, and Hot Food Holding Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed multiple deficiencies in food storage, staff hygiene, and food temperature control within the facility's kitchen. Specifically, opened cartons of Ready Care thickened orange juice and Thick It Clear Advantage Thickened Water were found stored beyond the manufacturer's recommended discard dates, with staff unable to confirm whether the dates marked were for delivery or opening. Staff interviews revealed inconsistent understanding of discard protocols, with some staff following a three-day rule and others referencing manufacturer instructions. Additionally, food storage policies required items to be labeled and dated appropriately, but these were not consistently followed. Further observations revealed that staff working in the kitchen did not have all hair fully contained within hairnets, with several instances of 4-5 inches of hair hanging out while preparing and serving food. During meal service, hot food, specifically green beans, was held at temperatures below the required 135 degrees Fahrenheit, with the food sitting in a steam pan with the burner off for over 30 minutes. Staff interviews confirmed knowledge of the temperature requirements, but the practice did not align with policy. Facility policies reviewed directed proper food storage, temperature maintenance, and use of hair restraints, but these were not adhered to during the survey.