Failure to Implement Policy for Storage of Resident Food Brought by Visitors
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to fully implement its policy regarding the use and storage of foods brought in by family members and visitors for residents. During a kitchen tour, surveyors observed several food items in the resident refrigerator that were not labeled with opened or discard dates, including prepared macaroni salad, sweet tea, thickened lemon water, and ranch dressing. Additionally, prepackaged apples were found with a 'good through' date that had already passed. These observations indicated that the facility was not consistently ensuring that food items were properly labeled and discarded according to policy. In an interview, the Regional Registered Dietitian (RRD) acknowledged that the resident refrigerator was often in poor condition after weekends and that the Dietary Manager typically checked and discarded unlabeled or outdated items on Monday mornings. The facility's policy required all prepared foods brought in by family or visitors to be labeled with content and date, and to be consumed within three days. The lack of adherence to these procedures resulted in unknown discard dates and potentially hazardous foods being stored past their safe consumption period.