Failure to Serve Food at Palatable Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to prepare and serve food at an appetizing and palatable temperature on one of four units, specifically the fifth floor. Observations revealed that food was transferred from the main kitchen to insulated transport boxes and then to the fifth-floor dining room, where it was placed in a steam table. Initial food temperatures were recorded upon arrival, but salads were not checked for temperature. Residents in the dining room received their meals, and trays were also prepared for distribution to resident rooms. Multiple residents expressed concerns that their food was not usually warm when received. When the last meal tray was served, temperatures of the food items on a test tray were taken and found to be below recommended serving temperatures, with items such as chicken, green beans, and macaroni and cheese being lukewarm or barely warm, and cold items like fruit cocktail and tea not being served at a cool temperature. The dietary manager confirmed that the food was not palatable. Facility policy requires prompt transportation of food to maintain appropriate temperatures, but this was not achieved during the observed meal service.