Expired Food Found in Facility Refrigerators
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to maintain proper food sanitation procedures by allowing expired food items to remain in both the kitchen and nursing unit refrigerators. During a kitchen tour with the Dietary Services Supervisor (DSS), a bag of shredded parmesan cheese and six containers of peaches were found with use by dates that had already passed. The DSS confirmed that these items should have been disposed of on their use by dates and acknowledged the potential for expired food to cause foodborne illness. Additionally, during an inspection of the nursing unit refrigerator with a Nurse Manager, three containers of expired yogurt were identified. The Nurse Manager stated it was her responsibility to check the refrigerator for expired items and that the yogurt should have been discarded. The Registered Dietitian (RD) further explained that staff were responsible for labeling, dating, and disposing of food items by their expiration dates, including food brought in by residents. Facility policy required daily inspection and disposal of perishable foods to ensure food safety, but this procedure was not followed, resulting in the presence of expired food in resident care areas.