Failure to Follow Recipes for Pureed Diets
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that food prepared for residents on a pureed diet was made according to established recipes designed to conserve nutritive value and flavor. During observation, Cook-C was seen preparing pureed grilled cheese by blending untoasted white bread with liquid cheese powder mix, without following a recipe. When questioned, Cook-C confirmed not using a recipe for pureed foods. The Food Service Manager (FSM)-D also stated that while recipes for pureed foods are available on the computer, they are not used, and the cook relies on visual judgment for consistency. FSM-D further clarified that the pureed food prepared did not match the regular diet food provided to other residents. The facility's policy on pureed food preparation requires that food be prepared to conserve nutritive value, flavor, and appearance, but does not specifically mandate the use of recipes. The recipe provided for pureed grilled cheese called for processing portions of grilled cheese sandwiches from the regular recipe and gradually adding hot milk, but did not specify the number of sandwiches to use. The surveyor found that the method observed did not align with the documented recipe or the food served to residents on a regular diet. No additional information was provided by facility leadership regarding the failure to follow recipes for pureed food.