Failure to Discard Expired Food and Properly Label and Store Food Items
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed multiple failures in the facility's food storage and handling practices. Expired food items, such as sugar-free orange gelatin and peeled garlic cloves, were found in the refrigerator and had not been discarded according to their use-by dates. Additionally, pre-sliced onions and lemons were not properly labeled, dated, or stored in closed containers, and a container of sliced mushrooms lacked both an opened date and a use-by date. In the freezer, an opened case of chicken breasts was found with the interior bag exposed to air, rather than being sealed and properly stored. These issues were confirmed during interviews with the Food and Nutrition Services (FANS) Director and staff, who acknowledged that the items should have been labeled, dated, and stored according to facility policy. Staff interviews revealed lapses in daily monitoring responsibilities, with some staff members stating they had not checked the refrigerator or freezer for several days due to being off work. The facility's policies require all foods to be covered, labeled with contents and preparation or discard dates, and for daily monitoring of storage areas by cooks and supervisors. The FANS Director and supervisor confirmed that the dietary department was responsible for these tasks, but the observed deficiencies indicated that these procedures were not consistently followed. These practices had the potential to affect all 54 residents receiving food from the kitchen.