Failure to Follow Food Safety and Sanitation Standards
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to proper food safety and sanitation practices in several key areas. Staff were observed using white bouffant hairnets as coffee filters in the coffee machine for approximately two weeks, despite the availability of appropriate coffee filters. The hairnets, not designed for food preparation, were used to brew coffee for residents. Additionally, a cook was seen handling soiled food equipment at the dish machine without wearing disposable gloves and then, without performing hand hygiene, proceeded to handle clean and sanitized kitchen equipment intended for resident food preparation. Further deficiencies included the improper sanitization of kitchenware, as a cook removed a steamtable pan from the rinse compartment of a three-compartment sink without it being sanitized. In the walk-in cooler, uncovered bowls of gelatin were stored in dish machine racks, and a milk carton was found without a cap. There was also improper storage of food items, with ready-to-eat foods such as flour tortillas, hot dogs, and deli turkey stored beneath uncooked bacon, increasing the risk of cross-contamination. The facility census at the time was 129 residents, with one resident on NPO status.