Unsanitary Kitchen Equipment and Surfaces
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to maintain the dual ovens, kitchen stand mixer, and kitchen floor in a clean and sanitary condition, as required by professional standards and the Nebraska Food Code. Specifically, there was black buildup on the bottom of both ovens, food debris accumulation on the arm and stand of the kitchen mixer, and missing grout between two rows of tiles near the stove top and ovens, with food debris present in the unfilled space. These findings were confirmed during observations with both the Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) and the Registered Dietitian (RD), who acknowledged the presence of buildup and missing grout. Interviews with the CDM and RD confirmed that the facility had a cleaning checklist in place, which required weekly cleaning of the ovens and cleaning of the mixer after each use. The facility's policy outlined that the CDM was responsible for oversight and that kitchen staff were assigned daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning tasks. Despite these policies, the observed conditions indicated that cleaning procedures were not being followed as required, resulting in unsanitary kitchen equipment and surfaces that could potentially affect all 69 residents who consumed food prepared in the facility kitchen.