Failure to Provide Palatable and Properly Tempered Food and Drink
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified a deficiency in the facility's provision of palatable, attractive, and appropriately tempered food and drink to residents. Multiple residents, all cognitively intact per their BIMS scores, reported that meals were consistently unappetizing, cold, or otherwise unpalatable. Observations included residents eating cold cereal, reporting never having received a hot meal or cold milk, and describing the food as 'nasty,' 'horrible,' or 'terrible.' Several residents stated they had to supplement with food from outside the facility due to dissatisfaction with the meals provided. Residents also reported that complaints about food temperature and quality had been made to staff without resolution. Direct observations and palatability tests conducted by surveyors confirmed the residents' reports. Lunch trays sampled during the survey were found to be lukewarm, bland, and lacking in flavor. Specific items such as breaded chicken patties, mashed potatoes, and spinach were described as bland, flavorless, and unappetizing. Food product temperatures were measured and found to be outside the safe and appetizing range, with hot foods served below the required 135°F and cold foods above the required 41°F, as per the 2022 FDA Model Food Code. For example, chef salads and milk were served at temperatures above 41°F, and hot dogs were served below 135°F. Review of facility policies revealed that the facility had established procedures to ensure a pleasant dining experience and proper food temperatures, including periodic test trays and monitoring by nutrition professionals. However, the observations, interviews, and temperature records indicated that these policies were not being effectively implemented, resulting in widespread dissatisfaction and potential nutritional decline among residents who rely on facility-provided meals.