Failure to Maintain Effective Pest Control in Kitchen Food Storage
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed several mouse droppings on the bottom shelf in the facility's kitchen food storage room during an inspection. The Dietary Supervisor confirmed that the droppings appeared to be from mice and stated that the maintenance department was responsible for pest control. The Maintenance Supervisor, who began working at the facility in early June, reported that while he had not personally seen pests, staff members had informed him of mouse sightings. He also indicated that pest control services had visited the facility twice in the previous month to perform extermination services, and he could provide documentation of these visits. A review of facility records showed that the food storage policy required storage areas to be free from rodent and insect infestation and to be treated for pests on a regular schedule. Pest control service inspection reports confirmed recent treatments for rodents, roaches, spiders, and ants. Despite these measures and policies, the presence of mouse droppings in the food storage area indicated that the facility failed to maintain an effective pest control program to keep the area free of pests.