Failure to Use Beard Restraints During Food Preparation
Penalty
Summary
Dietary staff members were observed on multiple occasions preparing and plating food in the facility kitchen without wearing required beard restraints, despite having facial hair such as goatees and mustaches exceeding the length specified in facility policy. Specifically, one dietary aide was seen at the service line and another at the short-order grill, both with facial hair and not wearing beard nets, during several morning meal preparations. These observations were made over several days and involved staff directly handling and serving food. A review of the Nebraska Food Code and the facility's own Dress Code Policy confirmed that beard restraints are required for food employees with facial hair longer than half an inch. The Dietary Manager acknowledged that the staff members in question had facial hair that necessitated the use of beard restraints. The failure to comply with these standards had the potential to affect the majority of residents receiving food from the kitchen.