Lack of Staff and Visitor Education on Safe Food Handling for Outside Food
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that visitors and staff who handled food brought in from outside were educated on safe food handling practices, as required by facility policy. The policy specified that staff should be made aware of procedures for outside food, assist families and visitors in understanding safe food handling (including cooling, reheating, temperature control, cross-contamination prevention, and hand hygiene), and provide residents or their representatives with information about the use and storage of food brought in by visitors. However, during interviews, a licensed nurse stated she was unaware of the policy and had not received education on this topic during orientation, despite working at the facility for five months. The Director of Staff Services confirmed that safe food handling practices were not included in orientation competencies and could not provide evidence of staff education on this subject. Additionally, the Admissions Coordinator reported being unaware of any safe food handling information provided to residents or visitors and confirmed that the admission packet did not include such education. These findings were based on observation, interviews, and review of facility policy and procedures. The lack of staff and visitor education on safe food handling had the potential to affect the 53 residents receiving an oral diet at the facility.