Failure to Maintain Food Safety and Sanitation Standards in Kitchen and Kitchenette
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain food safety and sanitation standards in both a kitchenette and the main kitchen, as observed by surveyors. In one of the unit kitchenettes, the refrigerator contained a clear basket of creamers mixed with a used disposable wipe, artificial sweetener packets, alcohol prep pad cartons, and cartons of lactose-free milk. The door shelf held rolled-up used napkins, unlabeled peppermint patties, mayonnaise packets, and a carton of milk. A black insulated container was found on its side, unlabeled and stuck in a dried, sticky liquid on the shelf. The upper cabinets were visibly dirty with loose cup covers, random cups, and spoons. Under the sink, a leaking drainpipe had caused a large black stain on the cabinet floor, with a soiled white towel placed directly under the leak. In the main kitchen's walk-in refrigerator, multiple food items were found unlabeled, undated, or improperly stored. These included a large container of cooked macaroni, an unidentified food item wrapped in plastic, an unsealed package of partially cooked bacon, a metal container of cut watermelon, and several dishes of cut vegetables and salads. Some items were labeled with dates that exceeded the facility's policy for discarding potentially hazardous foods, while others were not labeled or dated at all. Raw chicken and hamburger were stored in reusable plastic bags without labels or dates and placed on top of other food items without drip trays, contrary to professional standards and facility policy. The walk-in freezer was also found to be in poor condition, with boxes stacked on the floor, heavy frozen condensation on the ceiling and boxes, thick ice buildup around the door, and open boxes with internal bags exposed to frozen condensation. Several food items, such as pancakes, biscuits, strawberries, pie crusts, and frozen patties, were not properly sealed. The food service manager confirmed that food should be labeled, dated, and discarded if older than three days, and that boxes and bags should be sealed to prevent condensation, but these practices were not followed.