Failure to Maintain and Sanitize Kitchen Ice Machine
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that the kitchen's ice machine was cleaned and sanitized according to the established monthly schedule. Observation of the ice machine revealed the presence of black, fuzzy, raised dots identified as mold within the internal components of the machine. Review of cleaning logs showed that the last recorded cleaning occurred several months prior, and staff interviews confirmed that the cleaning schedule was not consistently followed or documented as required. During interviews, dietary staff acknowledged that the ice machine had not been cleaned or logged in accordance with the posted cleaning schedules. Staff admitted that they may have forgotten to record cleanings, and the logs did not reflect any recent cleaning activity. The facility's cleaning schedules and policies required monthly cleaning and documentation, but these procedures were not adhered to, resulting in visible mold growth inside the ice machine. The deficiency was identified through direct observation, review of cleaning schedules and logs, and staff interviews. The failure to maintain the ice machine in a sanitary condition placed residents at risk of food contamination and foodborne illness, as stated in the report. No contamination of the ice itself was observed at the time of inspection.