Failure to Maintain Kitchen Sanitation and Proper Food Storage
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed multiple instances of unsanitary conditions and improper food storage in the facility's kitchen. During a kitchen tour with the Director of Dietary Services (DODS), both convection ovens were found to be soiled with baked-on residue, and the six-burner and four-burner stove tops and ovens were covered with cooked-on grease, sediment, and food debris. The catch trays in these ovens were lined with foil that was also covered in burnt liquid and food debris. The DODS acknowledged that these items were not cleaned according to facility policy. Additionally, a wall above a mounted knife block had a sticky, colored substance, and while the knives themselves were clean, the area above the block had not been cleaned as required. Further inspection of the walk-in freezer revealed open and undated boxes of carrots and beef burgers, which the DODS acknowledged were susceptible to freezer burn and should have been sealed and dated. A metal tray containing an unidentified food item was also found, covered with torn plastic wrap and foil, with unclear dating. The DODS was unable to explain the labeling or the presence of the tray. The facility's sanitation policy requires all food service areas to be maintained in a clean and sanitary manner, but these observations demonstrated non-compliance with those standards. The Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA) and Director of Nursing (DON) acknowledged the surveyor's concerns during the exit interview.