Improper Food Storage and Disposal in Dietary Services
Penalty
Summary
During a kitchen tour, surveyors observed a ten-pound box of Sunkist oranges under a prep table that was three-fourths full and contained three oranges with black and white mold. Gnats were seen flying out of the box when it was opened. Additionally, an unsealed bag of food thickener with a hole in it was found exposed to the air. Both items were not properly stored or disposed of according to the facility's food preparation policy, which requires staff to avoid contamination by harmful agents. Interviews with dietary staff and management confirmed that the oranges had been received earlier in the month and should have been discarded, and that the thickener should have been sealed and dated. The Dietary Manager acknowledged responsibility for checking behind the cook, and the cook admitted to not paying attention to proper storage procedures. The Director of Food Services and the Nursing Home Administrator both confirmed that these lapses could lead to foodborne illness and that staff are expected to maintain proper food storage and dating compliance.