Deficient Food Storage and Handling Practices Identified
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed multiple failures in food storage and handling practices within the facility's kitchen. During an initial tour, a bag of frozen hamburger patties was found left open and exposed in the freezer, and a bag of macaroni was left open in the pantry. Both instances were in direct violation of the facility's own policies, which require all foods to be stored wrapped or in covered containers, labeled, dated, and properly sealed. Additionally, the kitchen refrigerator was found to be operating at 45 degrees, above the recommended temperature for safe food storage, as verified by two thermometers. Further observations during meal preparation revealed that a dietary employee failed to change gloves or wash hands after touching potentially contaminated surfaces, such as the freezer door and a floor delivery cart, before returning to food tray preparation. These lapses in hand hygiene and glove use were acknowledged by the Dietary Manager. The report notes that these deficiencies had the potential to affect all residents in the facility, which had a census of 117 at the time.