Failure to Label and Date Food Items in Kitchen
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to store, prepare, distribute, and serve food in accordance with professional standards for food service safety. During a kitchen inspection, multiple food items in both the refrigerator and freezer were found to be undated and unlabeled, including premade waffles, precooked and uncooked chicken, breaded squash, fruit cups, ground beef, and ham. Staff interviews confirmed that food should be dated and labeled upon delivery, when opened, or when removed from original containers, but this was not consistently done. The facility's own policy and federal food codes require all food items to be properly labeled and dated to ensure safety and prevent contamination. Staff members, including the dietary manager, cooks, dietitian, and administrator, acknowledged during interviews that the lack of dating and labeling could result in the use of expired or contaminated food, and that proper procedures were not followed. Record review of facility policy and federal regulations further supported the requirement for labeling and dating all food items. No specific residents were identified as being directly affected at the time of the deficiency.