Failure to Maintain Kitchen Cleanliness and Sanitation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain proper cleanliness and sanitation in the kitchen, as evidenced by observations of dirt, grease, food debris, and dust on floors, baseboards, walls, equipment, and air vents in the kitchen and dry storage areas. These unsanitary conditions were noted during multiple observations, with visible buildup on the floor, baseboards, walls near the washing station and steam table, the top of the dishwashing machine, and air vents. Staff interviews confirmed that kitchen staff were responsible for cleaning, but admitted that cleaning was sometimes delayed until the end of shifts due to workload, despite the existence of a cleaning schedule and assigned tasks. Record reviews showed that monthly cleaning logs were completed for the previous three months, and the facility had a policy assigning cleaning responsibilities to Food and Nutrition Services Personnel. However, the observed conditions indicated that cleaning was not consistently performed throughout the shift as required. Staff and management acknowledged that the kitchen was not always kept clean during operations, and that the current state of the kitchen could lead to food contamination.