Failure to Properly Date and Store Food Items in Dietary Department
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors found that the facility failed to store food in accordance with professional standards for food service safety. During an observation of the kitchen, multiple food items in the refrigerator, such as loaves of bread, hot dog buns, and rolls, were not dated at the time of storage. In the freezer, opened boxes of hamburger patties, roll dough, frozen cookie dough, and mixed vegetables were not sealed or covered to prevent contamination, despite being in their original containers. The facility's policy required all food to be covered, labeled, and dated before being refrigerated or frozen, but these procedures were not followed. Interviews with dietary staff and the Dietary Manager confirmed that all staff were responsible for dating and securely covering food items upon receipt and after opening. Staff acknowledged that undated or improperly stored food should be discarded, as there would be no way to determine how long it had been stored. The Dietary Manager, who was new to the position, stated that staff needed reeducation on food safety practices, including proper dating and sealing of food items. The Administrator also confirmed the expectation that dietary staff follow food safety guidelines and facility policy to ensure safe and nutritional meals for all residents.