Deficient Food and Nutrition Services Staff Training and Sanitation Practices
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that Food and Nutrition Services staff were trained and competent to safely and effectively carry out the functions of the department. Multiple staff members, including the Registered Dietitian and Dietary Supervisor, did not follow professional standards of practice for cleaning and sanitizing food contact surfaces. Observations revealed that staff routinely used only sanitizer to clean soiled equipment and surfaces, omitting the required three-step process of washing, rinsing, and sanitizing. Interviews confirmed that both the Registered Dietitian and Dietary Supervisor described incorrect procedures, and several staff members demonstrated improper cleaning techniques during surveyor observations. Further deficiencies were identified in staff knowledge and practice regarding the correct concentration of sanitizing solutions. Several staff members, including cooks and dietary aides, were unable to accurately state or demonstrate the required sanitizer concentration as specified by manufacturer guidelines. Additionally, a dietary aide did not follow the manufacturer's instructions for using test strips to check sanitizer concentration, dipping the strip for only three seconds instead of the required ten seconds. Interviews with the Registered Dietitian confirmed that not following these guidelines could result in inaccurate readings of sanitizer concentration. The facility also failed to ensure that staff were aware of and adhered to the manufacturer's guidelines for dishwasher sanitizer concentration and operating temperature. Multiple dietary aides incorrectly stated the required chlorine concentration for the dishwasher, and observations showed that the dishwasher was operating below the minimum required temperature of 120°F. Review of facility policies and interviews with staff confirmed a lack of understanding and adherence to these critical procedures, affecting all residents who received food from the kitchen.