Failure to Maintain Cleanliness of Food Storage Equipment
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain the cleanliness of food storage equipment in two separate kitchen areas, as observed during surveyor walkthroughs. In Cottage 80, a dried red substance was found beneath a roll of ground beef on the bottom shelf of a reach-in freezer, with no barrier in place. This condition persisted over multiple days, as confirmed by both observation and interview with the Culinary Director (CD). The CD acknowledged the issue and revealed that the facility had been without a CD for an extended period prior to their arrival, resulting in the absence of cleaning schedules in the culinary department. In the Rehab Cottage, a reach-in cooler was found to contain standing water with floating food debris on the bottom shelf. Initially, no food items were stored on this shelf, but later observations showed a cardboard box of eggs and a box of juice cartons placed directly in the standing water. The CD confirmed the presence of the standing water and the improper storage of food items. These findings were in direct violation of the facility's own Culinary Cleaning Policy, which requires thorough cleaning and sanitation of equipment and surfaces, as well as the use of cleaning checklists and regular audits.