Failure to Maintain Food Service Safety and Hygiene Standards
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed multiple failures to maintain professional standards for food service safety within the facility. During an initial kitchen tour, expired food items, including nineteen 8-ounce containers of chocolate milk past their use-by date, were found in the reach-in cooler. Additionally, several opened food items, such as a 48-ounce cream cheese, a container of browning seasoning sauce, a container of minced garlic, a container of chicken base, and a container of ground cinnamon, were stored without proper labeling or dating to indicate when they were opened. A dented 50-ounce can of chicken noodle soup was also found in the pantry, contrary to safe food storage practices. Further observations revealed that kitchen staff did not adhere to hygiene standards, as one dietary cook was seen with exposed facial hair while working in the kitchen and cleaning the stove. Interviews with the Dining Service Coordinator confirmed that these practices were not in compliance with the facility's policies, which require discarding expired food, labeling and dating all opened food items, removing dented cans, and ensuring staff wear appropriate hair restraints.