Failure to Label Opened Food and Discard Dented Cans
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to ensure opened food items in the cold storage room were labeled with an open date. During an inspection with the Dietary Manager Assistant (DMA), several opened items—including a jar of lemonade, bottles of ketchup and mayonnaise, bottles of sweet relish, and a jar of sliced pickles—were found without open dates. The DMA confirmed that these items should have been labeled and dated according to the facility's policy and procedure, which requires all opened food items to be labeled with an open date and used within specified storage guidelines. Additionally, a dented can of pinto beans was found stored on the shelf with other canned foods in the kitchen's dry storage room. The DMA acknowledged that the dented can should not have been stored with regular cans and should have been separated for discard, as outlined in the facility's policy. The policy specifies that food in dented, rusty, or otherwise compromised containers must not be retained or used and should be placed in a designated area for return to the vendor.