Sanitation and Pest Control Deficiencies in Kitchen
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed multiple sanitation and pest control deficiencies in the facility's kitchen. Flies were seen on and around food preparation areas, including on a carton at the food prep station, a box of potato pearls, and hovering over cooked food such as dinner rolls and meatloaf. The back door to the kitchen was found propped open with a rock, and the fly zapper near the door was unplugged until staff plugged it back in during the observation. Additionally, a mold-like substance was noted on a drop-in ceiling tile, which the Dietary Manager attributed to condensation from the air conditioning. Three vents directly over food preparation areas were found to have a build-up of dirt and debris. Interviews with staff revealed a lack of clarity regarding responsibility for cleaning the vents, with the Maintenance Director stating he had not been in the kitchen recently and was unsure who was responsible for vent maintenance. The Maintenance Director also stated that the substance on the ceiling tile looked like mold but had not been tested. The Administrator provided a kitchen vent cleaning schedule, but it lacked any indication of the date or year of cleaning. These failures in maintaining a sanitary environment and preventing pest contamination had the potential to affect all residents consuming food prepared in the kitchen.