Deficient Food Storage and Dietary Staff Competency
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that dietary staff possessed the necessary competencies and skills to safely and effectively manage food and nutrition services. During observations, surveyors found two small containers of food in the resident refrigerator labeled with a resident's name but lacking dates indicating when the food was brought in or a use-by date. Additionally, four containers of applesauce with a use-by date that had already passed were found in the same refrigerator. Dietary staff interviewed claimed that all items were checked and labeled, but this was contradicted by the surveyor's findings. One dietary staff member was also unsure of the required temperature for serving resident food. Further observations revealed two opened packages of deli meat placed on a wet tray in the resident refrigerator, with an opened box of apples stored directly underneath, creating a risk of cross-contamination. When questioned, a dietary staff member acknowledged the improper storage but stated they would not discard the apples, indicating a lack of authority or initiative. Another staff member admitted that dates on food items in storage areas were not routinely checked. The Nursing Home Administrator confirmed concerns regarding food dating and staff competency in dietary services.