Failure to Accommodate Food Allergy in Meal Service
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a resident with a documented cinnamon allergy was served raisin toast containing cinnamon for breakfast. The resident's allergy was clearly indicated on the face sheet, allergy report, and diet card, and the facility's product details confirmed that the raisin bread contained ground cinnamon. Despite these records, dietary and nursing staff failed to communicate and verify the allergy, resulting in the resident being served the allergen. The dietary aide relied on CNAs to communicate dietary restrictions, but the CNA did not relay the allergy information and assumed the raisin bread did not contain cinnamon before delivering it to the resident. The resident, who is cognitively intact and has a history of asthma affected by cinnamon, reported that this issue has occurred repeatedly during their stay. The dietary manager and registered dietitian acknowledged that staff should have checked for allergies and communicated them to ensure safe food service. The facility's policy requires providing safe foods and appropriate substitutions for individuals with food allergies, but this was not followed in this instance.