Unsanitary Kitchen Conditions and Inadequate Ice Machine Cleaning
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified unsanitary conditions in the facility's kitchen, including unsealed and uncovered floor drains and a large floor hole in the dry storage room, which were acknowledged by the Registered Dietitian and Director of Food and Nutrition Services. These openings were found to facilitate rodent entry, as evidenced by rodent droppings discovered behind the oven and in the entry room to the dry storage area during a county environmental health inspection. Pest control company reports from January to May documented ongoing recommendations to seal gaps, cracks, and broken tiles in the kitchen, but these repairs remained pending. The Maintenance Director confirmed that not all pest control recommendations had been completed and acknowledged that clutter near the garbage dumpster could attract rodents. Additionally, the ice machine in the kitchen was found to have black, brown, and grayish grime and debris inside the grid curtain, water tray, and ice chute. The Maintenance Director stated that monthly cleaning was performed using descaler and sanitizer chemicals, but admitted that a scrub brush was not used to clean between the metal flaps, leaving visible slime and debris. The Registered Dietitian and Director of Food and Nutrition Services agreed that the ice machine should be visibly clean, especially since the ice is used for resident consumption and food preparation. Record reviews revealed that the facility's Registered Dietitian had completed monthly inspection checklists without identifying the issues with uncovered floor holes, drains, or the cleanliness of the ice machine. The facility's kitchen sanitation policy was not provided, and the pest control policy on file was outdated. The facility's policy on ice machine cleaning required cleaning per manufacturer guidelines and monitoring by the Registered Dietitian, but these procedures were not adequately followed, as evidenced by the observed grime and debris.