Failure to Follow Food Safety Protocols in Kitchen
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to professional standards for food service safety in the kitchen, as evidenced by two separate incidents involving dietary staff. In the first incident, a dietary aide with approximately 8 inches of beard growth was observed standing over clean dishes in the dishwashing room without wearing a beard guard. The aide acknowledged that he was expected to wear a beard guard in the kitchen and had previously received in-service training on this requirement, but could not recall the exact date of the training. The dietary manager confirmed that hair nets or caps and beard guards are required for all staff in the kitchen and that it is her responsibility to ensure compliance. In the second incident, another dietary staff member was observed preparing pureed food while wearing gloves, but touched her shirt with her gloved hand and then handled bacon without changing gloves. She admitted to contaminating the bacon and stated that she had been in-serviced on hand hygiene and the need to change gloves after touching contaminated items, such as clothing. The administrator and dietary manager both confirmed that gloves should be changed and hands washed after touching contaminated items, and that clothing is considered contaminated. Review of the facility's policy indicated that all dietary staff must wear appropriate hair restraints and change gloves as needed to prevent food contamination.