Failure to Maintain Palatable and Safe Food Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that food was served at palatable and safe temperatures, as evidenced by repeated resident complaints and direct observations. Residents consistently reported issues with cold food, including cold coffee, soup, and dinner, during multiple Food Committee and Resident Council meetings over the course of a year. Despite these ongoing concerns, the Food Service Director (FSD) advised residents to request reheating or replacement of cold meals but did not address the underlying issue. Observations revealed that meal plates were covered with plastic lids containing large holes, and hot plates or insulated lids were not used for residents on the first floor due to concerns about burn risks for those with dementia. The FSD could not explain the purpose of the holes in the lids or their impact on food temperature. Additionally, there were not enough insulated lids and hot plates for all residents on the second and third floors, resulting in inconsistent use of proper equipment to maintain food temperature. A test tray conducted on the third floor showed that food temperatures for certain items, such as pork loin and brussel sprouts, were below the facility's policy requirement of maintaining hot foods at 140 degrees Fahrenheit or more. The FSD acknowledged that the measured temperatures were low and attributed this to the lack of sufficient insulated covers and hot plates. Facility documentation confirmed that the policy required hot foods to be maintained at or above 140 degrees Fahrenheit, but this standard was not consistently met, as demonstrated by both resident feedback and direct temperature measurements.