Failure to Provide Palatable and Appetizing Food
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide palatable, attractive, and appetizing food to residents, as evidenced by observations, interviews, and test tray sampling. During a lunch meal service, the spaghetti noodles were found to be mushy, soft, and overcooked, the herb green beans tasted metallic and bland, and the garlic bread stick was doughy with no garlic flavor. The meat sauce was described as flavorful, but the meatball lacked flavor. The Dietary Manager confirmed these findings after sampling the meal, noting the pasta was soft, the green beans lacked taste, and the bread stick may have softened while sitting in the steam table. The Administrator acknowledged that overcooked pasta should not be a regular occurrence and expected the menu items to have the appropriate flavors. Two residents expressed dissatisfaction with the food. One resident, with a diagnosis of quadriplegia, reported that the vegetables were overcooked and bland. Another resident, with a history of depression, stated the food was terrible, sometimes cold, and the meat was occasionally too tough. This resident also reported that the spaghetti and meatball served for lunch were bland and needed more seasoning. These findings were consistent with the test tray results and staff observations, indicating a failure to consistently provide palatable and appetizing meals as required.