Improper Food Storage and Handling in Kitchen
Penalty
Summary
During a kitchen inspection, surveyors observed that a half-used bag of uncooked enriched macaroni was left open and undated in the dry storage area. Additionally, a disposable plastic cup was found left inside a large container of cornmeal. These practices were not in accordance with the facility's food storage policy, which requires all opened containers to be dated and sealed or covered during storage. Interviews with dietary staff, the dietary manager, and the administrator confirmed that all food items should be dated upon opening and that leaving a disposable cup in a food container is not permitted due to the risk of cross-contamination. The facility's own policy, last revised in July 2014, specifies that opened containers must be dated and properly sealed or covered. The observed failures in food storage and handling could place residents at risk of cross-contamination and foodborne illness.