Failure to Serve Food at Proper Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to serve food at the proper temperatures as required by its policy and procedure titled Food Temperatures. During an interview, a resident reported that her food was usually served cold. Observation and temperature checks confirmed that the food items served to the resident, including pasta and carrots, were below the required serving temperature of more than 140 degrees Fahrenheit, with the pasta at 123°F and carrots at 108°F. Additional test trays also showed food items, such as chicken and rice casserole and carrots, being served below the required temperature, and milk being served above the acceptable cold temperature of less than 41°F. The resident involved had a medical history including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and depression, and required varying levels of assistance with activities of daily living, including setup or clean up assistance with eating. Both the Quality Assurance Nurse and the Administrator confirmed that the food temperatures did not meet the facility's policy requirements at the time the food was served to the resident. The facility's policy specified that food not meeting the required temperatures should be reheated or chilled to the proper temperature before serving, which was not done in this instance.