Failure to Serve Meals at Safe and Appetizing Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that meals were served at appropriate temperatures, as required by policy. Observations showed that food trucks left the kitchen with hot food items at high temperatures (pureed eggs at 200°F, pureed hash browns at 198°F, and pureed bread at 182°F). However, by the time the last resident on Unit 2 North was served, the temperatures of these items had dropped significantly (pureed hash browns at 110.1°F, pureed bread at 106°F, and pureed eggs at 106.3°F). The time between the food leaving the kitchen and being served to the last resident was approximately 46 minutes. Staff from various departments were observed passing out dietary trays, and the last resident served was dining in their room. Interviews with the Food Service Director and the DNS confirmed that the expectation is for meals to be served warm, with 135°F identified as the acceptable minimum temperature for hot foods. Both acknowledged that the temperatures measured at the time of service were not warm enough for consumption. The DNS also noted that food trays should be distributed immediately upon arrival to the unit and suggested that better organization of trays and delivery could improve efficiency. The facility's policy requires that each resident receive food and drink that is palatable and at a safe and appetizing temperature, which was not met in this instance.