Failure to Maintain Safe and Sanitary Food Handling and Storage
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain safe and sanitary food handling and storage practices as required by its own policies and professional standards. During tray line observation, a dietary employee was seen leaving the kitchen with gloved hands, retrieving a can of soup from a storeroom, opening and preparing the soup, and then proceeding to handle hamburger buns, cheese slices, and grilled cheese sandwiches with the same pair of gloves. The employee did not change gloves or wash hands after touching potentially contaminated surfaces, such as the soup can and storeroom door, before directly handling ready-to-eat food items. The dietary employee acknowledged the lapse and stated that glove changes and handwashing were not performed as required in this instance. The dietary manager confirmed that the employee should have changed gloves and washed hands after handling the soup can. Further observations revealed that food items stored in the CD unit pantry refrigerator and freezer were not labeled with resident names or use-by dates, as required by facility policy. Specifically, a bottle of Diet Pepsi, a can of energy drink, and a bowl of applesauce were found without proper labeling. Additionally, the refrigerator was found to be unsanitary, with a dried yellow substance present on the shelves. An LPN confirmed that the refrigerator was dirty and contained unlabeled items, in violation of facility policy and food safety standards.