Failure to Ensure Safe Storage and Handling of Resident Food Brought by Visitors
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure the safe and sanitary storage and handling of personal food products brought in by family and visitors for three residents. Observations revealed that one resident had Chinese takeout food in a Styrofoam container, red paper, and a peach stored in a personal refrigerator without a temperature log, and the resident had not received any guidance from the facility on maintaining food safety. Another resident had three food containers in a personal refrigerator, none of which were labeled with dates, and there was no temperature log present. This resident also reported that the facility had not provided any instructions on how to safely store food. Interviews with the unit manager and the administrator confirmed that several residents were allowed to have personal refrigerators without being given guidance on food safety standards. One resident expressed frustration that her food items were frozen due to the refrigerator being set at a freezing temperature. The facility's policy requires perishable foods to be stored in resealable containers with tightly fitting lids, labeled with the resident's name, the items, and the use-by date, and for safe food handling practices to be explained to families and visitors, but these procedures were not followed.