Failure to Properly Store and Date Food Items
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to store food in accordance with professional standards for food service safety and quality, as evidenced by multiple observations of expired and undated food items in both the kitchen and unit refrigerators. Surveyors found opened foods that were not dated, as well as expired foods and foods past their use by dates, including cabbage, lettuce, ham salad, potato salad, parmesan cheese, mayonnaise, teriyaki sauce, and single-serve grape juice containers. These items were available for use and service to residents, contrary to the facility's policy requiring all refrigerated, ready-to-eat TCS foods held for more than 24 hours to be labeled and dated with a prepared date and a use by date. Interviews with the Dietary Manager, Dietary Supervisor, and DON revealed inconsistent practices and unclear responsibilities regarding the removal of expired items from both the kitchen and unit refrigerators. The Dietary Manager acknowledged that staff should have removed expired items, while the DON stated that dietary staff are responsible for switching out juices and other items daily. The Dietary Supervisor emphasized the importance of preventing bacterial growth by removing food past its use by date. The Executive Director confirmed the expectation that all food items be labeled and dated to prevent food-borne illnesses.