Expired Chocolate Syrup Found in Kitchen Storage
Penalty
Summary
During a kitchen tour, surveyors observed a gallon of chocolate syrup with an open date of October 19, 2023, stored on top of the kitchen overhead counter and readily available for use. The Dietary Manager confirmed that the chocolate syrup should have been discarded six months after opening, according to the facility's dry goods storage guidelines, but it remained accessible to staff well past this period. The Registered Dietician also stated that no expired food or food stored beyond its shelf life should be present in the kitchen, whether opened or not. The facility's documented guidelines specify that opened chocolate syrup should be discarded after six months, but this was not followed, resulting in the presence of expired food in the kitchen.