Failure to Properly Label and Store Refrigerated Food Items
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to store food in a sanitary manner, as required by professional standards and facility policy. Specifically, several thawing food items in the kitchen refrigerator were not labeled with the date and time when thawing began, including a box of fully cooked pork sausage patties, a box of oven roasted sliced turkey breast, and a container of packaged chicken. Additionally, opened items in the refrigerator, such as sliced pasteurized American Swiss cheese, fully cooked pork sausage patties, and minced garlic, were not properly sealed and lacked both opened and discard dates. The Dietary Supervisor confirmed that these practices could result in staff being unaware of how long food items had been thawed or opened, which could lead to food spoilage. A review of the facility's policies and procedures revealed requirements for all refrigerated and frozen foods to be covered, labeled, and dated, including the use of received, opened, and use-by dates. Policies also specified that thawing meats should be labeled with pull and use-by dates, and that uncooked thawed meat should be used within a specified timeframe. The observed deficiencies indicated that these policies were not consistently followed, as multiple food items were found without proper labeling or sealing during the survey.