Deficiencies in Food Storage, Labeling, and Serving Sizes
Penalty
Summary
Facility staff failed to store and label resident food items in accordance with professional standards for food service safety. During observations in two resident unit pantry/nutrition areas, multiple food items in both refrigerators and freezers were found to be unlabeled, undated, or improperly stored. Examples included opened containers of ice cream, handheld pastries, and other food items that lacked use-by or expiration dates, as well as items not labeled with residents' names. Some items, such as a jar of strawberry jam, were found with the lid ajar, and a container of milk was past its date. These findings were inconsistent with the facility's own policies, which require labeling, dating, and proper storage of refrigerated and frozen foods. Additionally, the facility staff did not serve food according to the menu's specified serving sizes. During a midday meal observation, dietary staff used three-ounce scoops to serve green beans and collard greens, despite the menu indicating a four-ounce serving size for these items. The Dietary Manager confirmed the incorrect scoop was used and that some resident trays had already been sent out with the smaller portion before the error was corrected. These actions resulted in residents receiving less than the intended portion sizes for their meals.