Failure to Properly Label and Date Food and Beverages in Nourishment Pantries
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified that the facility failed to store and serve food and beverages in accordance with professional standards for food safety in both nourishment pantries. During observations, it was found that several food and beverage items, including containers of moderately thick water and prune juice, were open, partially used, and not date marked as required. Additionally, multiple food items such as boxes and metal containers with holiday decorations, a box of smoked sausages, and ice cream cones were found without resident identifiers or date markings. Facility policy requires all foods to be labeled, dated, and consumed by their safe use-by dates, and for food and beverages from outside sources to be labeled with the resident's name, room number, and date. Interviews with the Food Service Director and the Nursing Home Administrator confirmed that the observed items should have been date marked and labeled with resident identifiers, in accordance with facility policy. The failure to properly label and date mark these items was acknowledged by staff during the survey, and the deficiency was cited under 28 Pa code 211.6(f) - Dietary Services.