Failure to Store and Label Food Items According to Professional Standards
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to store food in accordance with professional standards for food service safety, as observed during a kitchen tour and confirmed through staff interviews. Specifically, an opened 20-pound box of spaghetti noodles was found in the pantry without a sealed container or an open date label. In the freezer and coolers, a two-gallon zip lock bag of waffles and a bag of liquid eggs were not labeled with open dates, and a 15-pound box of bacon was left open to air. These practices were not in compliance with the facility's own policies, which require all food items to be tightly wrapped, labeled, and stored in sealed containers to prevent contamination. Additionally, the facility did not appropriately store potentially hazardous snacks. Sandwiches containing turkey and pimento cheese were prepared and stored in a portable ice cooler on a hydration cart from the evening until the following morning, without temperature regulation or monitoring. The dietary manager confirmed that the cooler was not temperature regulated and that temperatures were not being monitored during this period, despite the presence of potentially hazardous foods. These deficiencies had the potential to affect all residents receiving meals from the kitchen.