Unsanitary Pureed Food Preparation by Dietary Staff
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency was identified when a dietary cook was observed preparing pureed food in an unsanitary manner. The cook washed the food processor bowl and blade, then placed them on the work station. The cook was then seen dipping a dish rag into a pail of disinfecting solution with a bare hand, wiping the food processor and work station with the rag, and returning the dirty rag to the pail. Without performing hand hygiene, the cook touched the inside of the food processor bowl and inserted the blade attachment, then proceeded to put pieces of cake into the food processor using a spatula. The facility's policy required pureed food to be prepared in a manner that conserves nutritive value, palatable flavor, and attractive appearance, but the observed actions did not meet sanitary standards. The dietary supervisor confirmed that hand washing should have occurred after using the dish rag and before continuing food preparation.