Expired Food Not Removed from Refrigerator
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to store, prepare, distribute, and serve food in accordance with professional standards for food service safety. During an observation in the facility's only walk-in refrigerator, two bags of spinach with a use by date that had already passed were found stored on the top shelf. The spinach was visibly spoiled, appearing dark green and greenish brown, wet, slimy, and had leaked onto boxes below. The Dietary Manager (DM) acknowledged responsibility for checking use by dates and removing expired items, admitting that these bags of spinach were missed. The Administrator and Director of Nursing (DON) both confirmed their expectations that food should be monitored for expiration and discarded if expired, noting that failure to do so could result in contamination or illness. A review of the facility's food storage policy and the U.S. Public Health Service Food Code confirmed the requirement for date marking and timely removal of expired, ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety foods. The policy and code specify that perishable foods must be consumed or discarded by the use by date to prevent spoilage and potential foodborne illness. The facility's failure to adhere to these standards was directly observed and confirmed through staff interviews and policy review.