Failure to Label and Date Opened Food Items in Kitchen
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to properly label and date food items stored in the kitchen's reach-in cooler and on the prep table. Specifically, several containers of thickened orange juice and sweet tea were found open without labels or open dates, despite packaging instructions stating they should be used within seven days of opening. Additionally, a small bowl of white substance (icing) was found with an outdated label, and a small square container with an unidentified brown substance (fudge) was found without any label or date. The dietary manager confirmed that the date marked on the boxes was for delivery and not for when the items were opened, and acknowledged that items should be marked when opened. The facility's Food Receiving and Storage policy requires all refrigerated and frozen foods to be covered, labeled, and dated, with refrigerated foods monitored for use-by dates, freezing, or discarding as appropriate. The dietary manager also stated that leftovers should be used within three days or discarded. The observed failures to follow these procedures could result in food being kept beyond safe timeframes, as items were not consistently labeled or dated when opened or stored.