Improper Food Labeling and Storage in Kitchen Areas
Penalty
Summary
During the initial kitchen tour, surveyors observed multiple instances of improper food labeling and storage. In the walk-in refrigerator, twelve 12-packs of hamburger buns were found to be expired, with various expiration dates. The walk-in freezer contained a bin labeled for discard with four packs of frozen waffles lacking expiration dates, an unlabeled and opened bag of green beans, a bag of sliced meat for sandwiches with a date, and open boxes of french toast and chopped carrots without expiration dates. Additionally, two bins contained a total of sixteen frozen chunks of unlabeled meats. In the produce refrigerator, eleven potatoes and nine green peppers were stored in plastic bins without labels or dates, and a box of celery was open to air and unlabeled. In dry storage, an opened five-pound bag of corn bread mix was found partially open to air with a date on it. A stack of newly delivered bread, including twenty-four bags of hot dog buns without expiration dates, was found sitting on the floor outside the walk-in refrigerator. Staff interviews confirmed the deficiencies. One staff member acknowledged the expired hamburger buns and was unaware of the proper discard timelines for frozen items, also confirming that all stored items should have been labeled. The food service director/Certified Dietary Manager agreed that it was concerning that staff were not aware of proper food storage timelines and verified that the new shipment of hot dog buns lacked expiration dates.