Failure to Monitor Food Storage Temperatures and Discard Expired Juice
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to professional standards for food storage and safety by not consistently monitoring and documenting refrigerator and dry storage room temperatures, as required by federal guidelines. During a kitchen tour, surveyors observed that temperature logs for the refrigerators and freezer were not completed for certain days, and staff interviews confirmed that daily temperature checks and documentation were sometimes missed. The Dietary Supervisor acknowledged that it was the responsibility of the morning cook to check and log temperatures daily, but this was not always done. Additionally, the facility did not follow its own policy regarding the storage of opened fruit juice. A jar of prune juice labeled with a date indicating it had been opened more than five days prior was found in the refrigerator, contrary to the facility's policy that opened fruit juices must be discarded after five days. The Dietary Supervisor was unsure whether the dates on food items referred to the opening or use-by dates and stated that staff should clearly label items. These practices were not in accordance with the facility's written policies and placed residents at risk for foodborne illness due to expired juice and inconsistent temperature monitoring.