Failure to Serve Food at Safe and Appetizing Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that food and drink were palatable, attractive, and served at safe and appetizing temperatures for several residents. Multiple residents with intact cognitive status reported that hot foods were frequently served cold, and cold foods were not consistently kept at appropriate temperatures. Specific complaints included food items such as french fries, potato dishes, and noodles being served cool or undercooked, and entire meals being unappetizing or left uneaten due to temperature issues. One resident noted that their hallway was typically the last to be served, resulting in consistently cold food. Surveyor observations confirmed these concerns, with test tray temperatures for hot foods measured well below the required 135°F and cold foods only slightly above the 41°F threshold. The facility's own policy required hot foods to be served at a minimum of 135°F and cold foods at 41°F or below, but these standards were not met during the survey. Staff interviews, including those with the Assistant Dietary Manager and the Nursing Home Administrator, acknowledged the expectation that foods should be served at appropriate temperatures and be palatable. Despite this, both resident interviews and direct surveyor observations demonstrated a pattern of noncompliance, with food quality and temperature concerns affecting at least four residents and confirmed by a test tray evaluation.