Failure to Properly Store, Date, and Refrigerate Food and Beverages
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed multiple failures in the facility's kitchen regarding the storage, preparation, and labeling of food and beverages. Specifically, a tray of prepared and poured glasses of thickened beverages was found in the walk-in refrigerator without any date labels. An opened jar of jalapenos, marked with a received date and labeled to refrigerate after opening, was found in the pantry instead of being refrigerated. Additionally, a large opened plastic container of vanilla cream icing was left with the lid open and not properly sealed, and a half-used bottle of salad dressing, which required refrigeration after opening, was also found unrefrigerated in the pantry. In the dining room, a beverage container with water was present on the counter without a date indicating when it was prepared. Interviews with the Dietary Manager (DM) and the Administrator confirmed that these items should have been properly dated, sealed, and refrigerated according to facility policy and food safety standards. The DM acknowledged that improper storage and lack of dating could result in food items going bad. Record reviews showed that staff had previously received in-service training on labeling, dating, and food storage, and facility policies required food to be covered, dated, and stored at appropriate temperatures. The observed deficiencies were in direct violation of these established procedures and professional standards for food service safety.