Improper Labeling and Storage of Opened Food Items
Penalty
Summary
During an initial walk-through of the facility's kitchen storage areas, surveyors observed several food storage violations. Specifically, a half-full bag of macaroni noodles was found on a shelf in the dry storage room without a label or date. Additionally, two opened bags—one containing chicken tenders and the other French fries—were found in the freezer, also lacking labels and dates. These opened bags were not stored in sealed containers or zipper bags as required by facility policy. Staff interviews confirmed that the standard procedure is to label and date all opened food items and store them in sealed containers or zipper bags. The kitchen manager and other staff acknowledged that the observed practices did not comply with the facility's food storage policy, which mandates that opened products be placed in seamless containers with tight-fitting lids, labeled, and dated. The policy also requires that food items be dated when placed on shelves in the storage room. The failure to follow these procedures was confirmed by both the staff present during the survey and the kitchen manager.