Failure to Follow Food Storage, Labeling, and Cooling Procedures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to proper food storage and handling practices as observed during a kitchen inspection. Two food items, a bottle of BBQ sauce and a bag of shredded Parmesan cheese, were found in the refrigerator without labels or dates indicating when they were placed there. Additionally, a tray of tomatoes was discovered in the refrigerator past its labeled expiration date, with the label indicating they should have been discarded the previous day. The Director of Kitchen (DOK) acknowledged that these items should have been labeled, dated, and discarded according to the facility's policy and procedure, but was unsure why this was not done. A review of the facility's cooling logs for May and June revealed improper cooling practices. Several entries showed that food items, such as chicken and pork, were not cooled to the required temperature of 70°F within two hours, as stipulated by the facility's policy. In some cases, temperature checks were performed before the two-hour mark, resulting in inaccurate documentation of the cooling process. The DOK admitted to checking temperatures too early and not following the policy's requirements for cooling and documentation. The facility's policies and procedures, which were reviewed with the DOK, clearly state that all food items must be labeled, dated, and discarded when expired, and that proper cooling techniques must be followed and documented. The DOK confirmed that these policies were not followed in the instances identified during the survey.