Failure to Maintain Sanitary Food Storage and Handling Practices
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to store and handle food in a sanitary manner, as evidenced by multiple observations and staff interviews. In the kitchen refrigerator, containers of thickened apple juice, applesauce, and cottage cheese were found without open or prepared dates. Additionally, a large container of white beans in the dry food area was not dated. Staff interviews confirmed that these items should have been labeled with open or prepared dates to ensure proper tracking and timely disposal. The facility's dietary staff acknowledged the importance of dating food items, particularly dairy products and dry goods, to prevent spoilage and ensure food safety. Further deficiencies were observed in the monitoring of the dishwasher's chemical sanitation. The dishwasher worker admitted to forgetting to check and record the sanitation fluid levels, despite the facility's policy requiring checks at least once per shift. Additionally, during food preparation, a staff member was observed wearing three bracelets while mixing pudding, with the jewelry hanging over the food. The staff member acknowledged that jewelry should not be worn during food preparation, as it poses a risk of physical contamination. The facility's policies require proper labeling, dating, and monitoring of food items, as well as restrictions on jewelry during food preparation, but these were not consistently followed.