Failure to Maintain Sanitation and Food Storage Practices in Kitchenettes
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to ensure proper sanitation and food storage practices in both kitchenettes on the [NAME] Unit and [NAME] Unit. Specifically, refrigerators in these areas contained expired food items, such as sour cream, milk, instant Jello, and a supermarket packaged Cobb salad. Additionally, there were multiple unlabeled and undated resident food items, including milk, yogurts, juices, boiled eggs, cut fruits and vegetables, and an open stick of butter. The refrigerators also had spilled food and debris on the shelves, indicating a lack of regular cleaning and maintenance. Interviews revealed confusion and lack of clarity regarding departmental responsibilities for maintaining and cleaning the kitchenette refrigerators. The Food Service Director stated that the Dietary Department was not responsible for these refrigerators and did not maintain a cleaning schedule, believing housekeeping was responsible. The Housekeeping Director, newly employed, was unaware that his department was responsible for refrigerator cleaning and food item checks, and thus had no cleaning schedule in place. The Administrator confirmed that the Dietary Department should have been maintaining the refrigerators and checking for expired or unlabeled items, but this was not occurring. The Administrator also noted that staff and resident food items were improperly stored together and not properly labeled or dated.