Improper Preparation and Testing of Sanitizing Solution by Dietary Staff
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that dietary support staff were competent and followed proper procedures for preparing and testing sanitizing solutions in the kitchen. During observations and interviews, a dietary worker demonstrated testing a sanitizing solution but was unable to state the correct immersion time for the test strip, instead guessing various timeframes. Another dietary assistant prepared a sanitizing solution by pouring an unmeasured amount of concentrated sanitizer into a bucket of water without measuring the water temperature or the quantity of sanitizer, and then immediately tested the solution without following the manufacturer's required immersion time for the test strip. The color of the test strip indicated a concentration that could not be accurately determined, as it exceeded the maximum reading on the test strip's color chart. The dietary assistant's method of preparing the sanitizing solution did not follow the manufacturer's guidelines, which specify a precise dilution ratio and temperature range. The product instructions required adding 1-2 fluid ounces of sanitizer per gallon of water to achieve a concentration of 200-400 ppm, and the test strip instructions required a 10-second immersion in solution at a specific temperature range. The dietary staff's failure to follow these instructions was confirmed by the person in charge of dietary services, who acknowledged that the solution was likely too concentrated, creating the potential for toxic exposure. The FDA Food Code was also reviewed, which emphasizes the importance of using chemical sanitizers according to EPA-registered label requirements to prevent harmful residues.