Hot Liquids Served Above Safe Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
During a lunch meal observation, dietary staff served hot pea soup to residents at temperatures exceeding the facility's policy and stated safe serving guidelines. The facility's policy required hot liquids to be served below 150°F, and the Dietary Director confirmed the preferred serving temperature was 140°F or below. However, the soup was measured at 159°F when served. Dietary aides were observed pouring and serving the soup directly to residents without allowing it to cool or checking the temperature, despite being trained to do so. One aide admitted to not checking the temperature due to being preoccupied, and another only checked after being prompted by the Dietary Director. Training on serving hot liquids had not been provided to one aide for two years. Multiple residents, including those who were not alert and oriented and one who was legally blind, received the hot soup. During a Resident Council meeting, several alert and oriented residents reported that the soup was very hot, with some needing to wait for it to cool or using ice cubes to lower the temperature. The Dietary Director later confirmed that hot liquids were not served at the preferred temperatures, in violation of facility policy and state regulations.