Improper Food Storage and Handling in Walk-In Freezer
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to store, prepare, distribute, and serve food in accordance with professional standards for food service safety. Specifically, in the walk-in freezer, 11 boxes were found unshelved and stacked on top of each other, causing the boxes to cave in and compromise the integrity of the cardboard. Some boxes of vegetables were also caving in due to being stacked improperly. The food inside the boxes appeared to be frozen and without freezer burn at the time of observation. The Dietary Manager (DM) acknowledged that overstock, particularly of bread, led to excess items being stored in the freezer, and admitted that the freezer had looked like this for a long time without anyone bringing it to her attention. Residents had complained about the texture of the food, stating it was difficult to chew, but the DM did not find it problematic herself. The DM also indicated that she offered to change residents to a mechanical diet, but they refused. The Registered Dietitian (RD) and the Assistant Dietary Manager (ADM) both stated that the freezer's condition was not typical and could impact all residents, as everyone eats food from the kitchen. The ADM noted that improper storage could compromise packaging and make food prone to air-borne contaminants. The Dietary Cook (DC) reported that he relied on the DM to locate items in the freezer and was instructed to remove bagged items from crushed boxes, date them, and place them on a shelf. Review of the facility's policy indicated that storage refrigerators should be clean, organized, and properly ventilated, which was not observed during the survey.