Failure to Serve Palatable Food at Proper Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to serve food and beverages at palatable and proper temperatures, as required by its own policy and regulatory standards. Review of Resident Council/Food Committee meeting minutes revealed repeated resident complaints about food and drink temperatures, including coffee and French fries not being hot enough. Concern forms were generated following these meetings. Multiple residents interviewed confirmed that their meals were not consistently served at their desired temperatures, even when dining in the main dining room. One resident also reported that her food was not always edible. Observation of a lunch meal service showed that the food temperatures at the point of service were below recommended levels for hot foods and above recommended levels for cold foods. Specifically, the Swedish Meatballs/Mashed Potatoes/Gravy Casserole was 131.9°F, peas were 121.8°F, coffee was 116.6°F, and milk was 48.4°F. The meal was determined to be neither palatable nor at an appetizing temperature. The Regional Dietitian confirmed that these temperatures did not meet the required standards.