Failure to Label and Discard Expired Food Items in Kitchen Storage
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to follow its own food handling policies and procedures by not labeling food items in the kitchen refrigerators and freezers with the required information, such as item name, date opened, and use by date. Specifically, a 1-gallon container of Thousand Island dressing in Refrigerator #2 was found without an open date, and the staff member acknowledged it had been opened the previous day but was not labeled as required. Additionally, three cups of vanilla pudding in the same refrigerator were found with a use by date that had already passed, and a dietary staff member confirmed these should have been discarded the previous day. Further observations revealed that a tray of ice cream cups in Freezer #2 lacked any labeling or use by dates, with staff confirming that dates should have been present to ensure safe service. Review of the facility's policy and procedure on labeling and dating of foods confirmed that all food items in storage, refrigerators, and freezers must be labeled and dated, and that prepared foods must be covered, labeled, and dated. These failures to adhere to policy had the potential to expose residents to pathogens due to improper food handling.