Failure to Ensure Adequate Heat Sanitization of Dishware
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that the high temperature dishwasher in the main kitchen provided adequate heat sanitization for dishes and utensils. Observations showed that the dishwasher was in use, but the dietary staff only documented temperature readings from the external temperature gauge/dial and did not check dishwash temperatures at the plate level during wash/rinse cycles. When a surveyor's dish thermometer was used, it required up to five wash/rinse cycles before the thermometer registered the required 160 degrees Fahrenheit or above, indicating inconsistent or inadequate sanitization. Additionally, the dietary manager confirmed that staff did not routinely monitor dish temperatures at the plate level and that the facility's dish plate thermometer was not functioning due to a dead battery. The lack of a process or functioning thermometer to verify adequate heat sanitization of dishware contributed to the deficiency, as the facility could not ensure that dishware was being properly sanitized according to professional standards and regulatory requirements.