Failure to Maintain Proper Cooler Seals Resulting in Unsafe Food Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that the tray line milk cooler maintained proper seals, resulting in its inability to keep milk and juice at safe temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. During an initial kitchen tour, surveyors observed that the cooler's seal was damaged, causing a gap and preventing the cooler from sealing correctly. Further inspection revealed that the milk inside the cooler did not feel very cold to the touch. When interviewed, the Dietary Manager was unaware of the damaged seal and, upon checking, found the milk temperature to be 41.4°F, the cranberry juice at 57.6°F, and the inside of the cooler at 51.0°F. The Dietary Manager confirmed that the cooler was not properly holding temperatures due to the broken seal. This deficiency was identified as a random opportunity for discovery and had the potential to affect a limited number of residents in the facility, which had a census of 28 at the time.