Deficient Food Storage, Labeling, and Kitchen Sanitation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to professional standards for food storage, preparation, and cleanliness as evidenced by multiple observations during a kitchen tour and staff interviews. Surveyors found several food items in the freezer, including fish, chicken, tator tots, and breadsticks, that were not labeled or dated. An opened box of hamburgers was left exposed to air, and a gallon of milk was found in the cooler past its best by date. In dry storage, cups were improperly stored in a bin of bread crumbs, and dented cans of peaches and applesauce were found on the shelf with other cans. Additionally, a large, thick brown stain was observed on the floor under shelving in dry storage, which staff acknowledged had been present for an extended period and had not been effectively cleaned. Further observations revealed that kitchen equipment, such as ovens, had significant grease buildup and had not been cleaned regularly, with one oven missing a knob and brownish residue present on the doors and handles. Staff interviews confirmed that cleaning logs were not maintained for kitchen floors or equipment, and cleaning tasks were inconsistently performed due to staffing issues. The facility's policy required food storage areas to be kept clean at all times and for all foods to be properly labeled, dated, and covered, but these standards were not met as documented by surveyors.