Failure to Use Standardized Recipes for Pureed Diets
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide food prepared in accordance with standardized recipes for four residents on pureed diets. Observations revealed that dietary staff did not have access to or did not use recipes for pureed menu items, including Orange Chicken, Lo Mein noodles, and apple pie. Staff members confirmed they could not find the necessary recipes and sometimes relied on their own judgment for preparation and portion sizes. During meal preparation, staff pureed apple pie using a recipe intended for apple crisp and did not follow measurement guidelines, instead pouring apple juice directly from the container. The temperature of the pureed apple pie was recorded at 80 degrees, and there was confusion among staff regarding the correct serving size for desserts. Interviews with dietary staff indicated that recipes were not always used to ensure proper nutritional value or portion sizes for residents on pureed diets. One staff member reported not always using recipes and relying on usual serving amounts. Additionally, there was a discrepancy in the number of pureed desserts prepared, as only three portions were plated for four residents, with the explanation that one resident was transitioning to a regular diet. The facility's policy required the use of standardized recipes for all menu items, including pureed and therapeutic diets, but this was not consistently followed.