Failure to Serve Meals at Safe and Appetizing Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that meals were served at appropriate temperatures, resulting in residents receiving food that was not palatable or at a safe and appetizing temperature. During a Resident Council meeting, residents reported ongoing issues with food being served cold. A test tray was plated and delivered to a unit, with the last tray served approximately 15 minutes after plating. Temperature checks of the test tray revealed that all hot food items, including chicken cutlet, baked potato, cooked spinach, and mashed potatoes, were below the facility's acceptable standard of 135 degrees, with recorded temperatures ranging from 128 to 130 degrees. The food temperature log showed that food was at the correct temperature on the steam table, but the temperature dropped significantly by the time it reached the residents. The process for meal delivery involved plating meals in the kitchen, covering them with plastic lids that had holes, and transporting them on open, two-tiered carts. Dietary Aides delivered trays to various floors, and only one Nurses Aid was observed passing trays on the unit, despite others being present on the floor. The Dietary Director confirmed that all staff, including department heads and Nurses Aids, were responsible for passing trays, but this was not consistently done. The portable steam table was not used due to logistical challenges, and the current method did not maintain food temperature during delivery, resulting in residents being served cold meals.