Improper Food Storage, Labeling, and Sanitation in Food Service Areas
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed multiple failures in food storage and handling within the facility's main dining room. An individual cup of brown sugar was found uncovered and exposed to air in a cabinet drawer containing various condiments, with the drawer itself soiled by food crumbs and sticky substances. A storage container of popcorn kernels was discovered in a cupboard above the refrigerator; the container was yellowing, sticky, greasy, and lacked any date or label. In the refrigerator, several packages of cubed cheeses and summer sausage were present without any labels, open dates, or use-by dates. A gallon-sized bag of sliced summer sausage, approximately half full and appearing dried out, was also found without any identifying information. These food items had been used for a recent event and were not properly labeled or dated as required by facility policy. Interviews revealed that the Activity Director was unaware of the requirement to label and date food items ordered through the kitchen for activities. A review of the facility's Food and Nutrition Services policy confirmed that all food removed from original packaging must be labeled with arrival and open dates, and that leftover foods must be labeled, dated, and either frozen or discarded within 72 hours if refrigerated. The observed practices did not comply with these policies, resulting in improper food storage, inadequate labeling, and unsanitary conditions that could contribute to cross-contamination and foodborne illness.