Failure to Properly Store, Label, and Discard Food Items in Kitchen Storage Areas
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified that the facility failed to ensure proper storage, labeling, dating, and discarding of food items in the walk-in freezer, walk-in cooler, and dry storage room. During observations, multiple food items were found to be improperly sealed, lacking open or use by dates, or stored past their expiration or best by dates. Examples included dented cans, opened containers without appropriate labeling, and perishable items with expired or missing dates. These findings were present across all major food storage areas in the kitchen. Facility policies required that all food be stored in a clean, safe, and sanitary manner, with specific instructions for labeling, dating, and discarding food items according to federal, state, and local guidelines. The policies also mandated that opened packages be resealed tightly and labeled with open and use by dates, and that expired or compromised items be removed from use. Despite these policies, surveyors observed several violations, such as opened and unlabeled containers, items with unclear or missing expiration dates, and food products that were not properly sealed or stored. Interviews with the Dietitian, Dietary Manager, and Administrator confirmed that the facility had established procedures for food safety, including regular walkthroughs and the use of a labeling guide. However, the staff acknowledged that items not properly labeled or past their use by dates should be discarded, and that daily checks were expected. The presence of improperly stored and labeled food items indicated that these procedures were not consistently followed, resulting in the cited deficiency.