Failure to Properly Store and Label Food Items
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that food was stored in accordance with professional standards, as evidenced by the presence of expired or undated food items in both the freezer and dry food cupboards. During a kitchen tour with the Dietary Supervisor, surveyors observed an undated bag of cream puffs in the dessert freezer, as well as undated dried parsley, brown gravy mix, and a bowl of cereal in a covered plastic container in the cupboards. Additionally, a powdered cherry jello mix was found with a preparation date but was past its use-by date. The Dietary Supervisor confirmed these findings and stated that dietary staff are expected to properly label and discard expired foods. The Registered Dietician also confirmed that undated or expired food should be thrown out. Review of the facility's policy indicated that opened dry food items must be tightly closed, labeled, and dated.