Food Storage and Sanitation Deficiencies in Dietary Department
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to store and serve food in a sanitary manner in both the dietary department and on one nursing unit. During a kitchen tour, surveyors observed multiple violations of facility policy and food safety standards. In several coolers, opened food items such as tea, sliced turkey lunch meat, ham, and shredded cheese were either undated or stored past their use-by dates. Juices from an opened bag of turkey lunch meat were dripping onto a box of pork below, forming a puddle on the cooler floor, and opened bags of ham and cheese were stored inappropriately. Milk crates were stored directly on the floor, and a juice lid was found on the floor near the milk. The trayline refrigerator had visible dried food substances on the door and shelves, and utensil drawers had dried food debris. Flying insects were present in both the food preparation and dish room areas, and dry storage had a fly, an open window, and bug and dust debris on the windowsill. During meal service on one unit, a dietary employee with uncovered facial hair was observed serving food. The employee wore gloves but failed to change them or perform hand hygiene after touching the phone and then handling resident plates and utensils. The same gloved hands were used to serve food, and the employee did not change gloves or perform hand hygiene between tasks, contrary to facility policy. The administrator confirmed that utensils, not gloved hands, should have been used to serve meat. These findings demonstrate multiple failures to follow food safety and sanitation protocols as required by facility policy and federal regulations.