Food Storage and Sanitation Deficiencies in Dietary Services
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain sanitary conditions in the storage, preparation, and serving of food for 43 residents. Observations included dietary staff with facial hair not wearing beard or mustache covers, and a fan above the microwave area with excessive grey/black lint on the blades and screens, blowing toward the steam table. The dining room refrigerator/freezer contained two uncovered and undated containers of chocolate ice cream. Additionally, a fan near the three-compartment sink was also found with excessive lint, and the lower shelving throughout the kitchen was unclean with food debris and dark particles. The Hydrion QT-40 chemical sanitizing strips used for monitoring sanitizer strength were expired. Further deficiencies were observed in food handling practices. A dietary staff member checked food temperatures without sanitizing the thermometer between foods, and another staff member sorted clean spoons from a dishwasher rack by touching the eating surfaces with bare hands. These actions were verified by dietary staff, who acknowledged that proper procedures were not followed, including the need for beard and mustache covers, labeling and covering food items, cleaning fans and shelving, sanitizing thermometers, and avoiding direct contact with eating surfaces of utensils.