Failure to Ensure Safe and Sanitary Food Storage and Labeling
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure the safe and sanitary storage of food items in accordance with professional standards and its own policies and procedures. During an observation in the kitchen, multiple opened food items in both dry storage and refrigerators were found without open dates or use-by dates, including an opened box of cheesecake, prepared bowls of dry cereal, an opened gallon of milk, and an orange juice pitcher. Additionally, a storage container was found to contain two eaten banana peels and a soiled paper cup among sealed items. The Registered Dietician (RD) confirmed that these items should have been labeled with preparation and use-by dates, and was unable to identify when some items were opened. Facility policies reviewed indicated that all open food items must be labeled with open and use-by dates per manufacturer guidelines, and that storage areas should be clean and free of contamination. Further observation revealed a paper bag in the refrigerator labeled for a resident, containing a ham sandwich and two fruit cups, with instructions for use the next day. The RD stated the ham sandwich was good for seven days, but the labeling and storage did not align with facility policy, which requires luncheon meats to be stored until their expiration date or for no more than seven days after opening. These findings demonstrate a lack of adherence to established food storage and labeling protocols, as well as lapses in maintaining sanitary storage conditions.