Deficient Food Storage, Labeling, and Temperature Monitoring
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed multiple failures in food storage and preparation practices within the facility. In the walk-in refrigerator, nine cartons of milk were found with expiration dates that had already passed. In the walk-in freezer, ten bags of veal meat were stored in a paper box without any label indicating the expiration or use-by date, and staff acknowledged the lack of proper labeling. Additionally, a plate of cold salad in the LTC unit snack refrigerator was not labeled with the date it was prepared or a use-by date. The same refrigerator contained various food items and was found to be dirty, with a brown paper in a brownish liquid, and staff described its condition as "disgusting and dirty." The unit manager stated that housekeeping typically cleaned the refrigerator monthly. Residents reported that their food was usually cold by the time it was served. A review of food service temperature logs revealed multiple instances where required temperature checks were missing for various meals on several dates. The Regional Training manager confirmed that staff were expected to check food temperatures before each meal service and reheat food if temperatures were below acceptable levels, but the logs did not reflect consistent compliance with this protocol.