Failure to Properly Label, Date, and Discard Food Items
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed multiple deficiencies in food storage and labeling practices within the facility's kitchen. In the walk-in cooler, there was an open and unlabeled ripped plastic bag of cooked chicken fillets and an opened, unlabeled plastic-wrapped bag of thin sliced potatoes, both available for use. In the walk-in freezer, a tray of frozen angel food cake was found wrapped in plastic and labeled with a use-by date that had already passed. Additionally, in the dry goods storage room, two plastic bags of cornflakes and a plastic bin of poultry gravy powder were found with use-by dates that had expired, yet these items remained available for use. Interviews with the Dietary Manager and Food Service Director confirmed that the items were not stored or labeled according to facility policy and professional standards. The Dietary Manager acknowledged the improper storage and labeling, and the Food Service Director stated that staff had previously received education on proper procedures. The Administrator also confirmed that kitchen staff are expected to follow food safety standards and policies. These findings indicate that the facility failed to consistently label, date, and discard expired or improperly stored food items, as required.