Failure to Follow Standardized Recipes for Pureed Diets
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility did not ensure food was prepared to conserve nutritive value and flavor for residents on a pureed diet. Specifically, a cook was seen preparing pureed cornbread without following a standardized recipe, as required by facility policy. The cook placed unmeasured amounts of cornbread, milk, and thickening powder into a blender, blended the mixture, and produced a consistency thinner than pudding, which did not meet the expected standard for pureed foods. When questioned, the cook was unable to describe the correct consistency or confirm adherence to a recipe. The Dietary Manager confirmed that recipes exist for all pureed foods and acknowledged that the cook should have followed the recipe to achieve the correct texture. The facility's policy mandates the use of standardized recipes for all menu items, and the failure to follow these procedures was observed to affect all residents receiving pureed diets at the facility. No explanation was provided for the cook's deviation from the required process.