Food Safety and Sanitation Deficiencies in Dietary Services
Penalty
Summary
Several deficiencies in food safety practices were observed during an unannounced visit to the facility's kitchen. Multiple kitchen staff, including the Dietary Supervisor and two Dietary Aides, were seen wearing hairnets that did not fully contain their hair, with hair escaping from the top, sides, and nape of their necks. The Dietary Supervisor confirmed that staff were expected to have all hair tucked into hairnets, and that hairspray was suggested during training to help keep hair in place. The facility's dress code policy required hats or hairnets to completely cover hair, depending on its length. Additionally, improper glove use and dishwashing procedures were observed. The staff member responsible for dishwashing was seen rinsing dirty kitchenware with gloved hands and then, without changing gloves, handling clean and sanitized stainless steel pans. The staff member acknowledged this lapse, and the Dietary Supervisor confirmed that gloves should have been changed to prevent cross-contamination. Furthermore, the dishwasher was observed rinsing kitchenware with crusted food residue above and beside beverage cups and glasses, which were placed upside down on racks. The Dietary Supervisor stated that kitchenware should be scraped and soaked prior to dishwashing and that items used for meal preparation should be washed before those from patient care areas. The facility's dishwashing policy did not specify procedures for transitioning between dirty and clean tasks.