Failure to Serve Food at Safe and Palatable Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that food was served at a palatable and safe temperature, as evidenced by multiple resident interviews and direct observations. Several residents reported that their food was not always hot when it arrived, with one resident specifically stating that lunch was cold on the day of the survey. Observations showed that the last meal trays were delivered with the food cart left open, and the food temperatures measured on a test tray were significantly below the expected standard, with items ranging from 102 to 119 degrees Fahrenheit. The Dietary Manager confirmed that the food was not at an appropriate temperature upon delivery, despite being at least 175 degrees Fahrenheit in the kitchen and expected to be at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit when served. The deficiency had the potential to affect 104 residents who consumed food from the kitchen, excluding three residents who were not eating by mouth.