Failure to Serve Palatable Food and Drink at Safe Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to provide food and drink that was palatable and served at appropriate temperatures for five of 35 residents reviewed. Multiple residents reported that hot foods were often served cold and that cold items, such as milk, were not sufficiently chilled. Specific complaints included consistently cold food, uncooked French fries, and unappetizing eggs. During a resident council meeting, several residents voiced dissatisfaction with the temperature and quality of the meals provided. A test tray observation revealed that food items were served outside the acceptable temperature ranges established by the facility's standards. The tray cart left the kitchen at 12:20 p.m., but the last tray was not served until 12:45 p.m., resulting in hot foods such as chicken, rice, and vegetables being below the required temperature, and cold items like fruit cups, apple juice, and milk being above the acceptable range. The Food Service Director confirmed that these temperatures were not within the palatable range, corroborating the residents' complaints.