Deficient Food Storage and Sanitation Practices in Kitchen
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed multiple failures in the facility's kitchen regarding the storage, preparation, and handling of food items. Specific findings included a partially opened orange juice container sitting on top of a box of orange juice with leakage present, an open and undated box of graham cracker tart shells exposed to air, and a box of vanilla ice cream cups in the freezer that was open, undated, and contained cups that had spilled and melted contents. Additionally, a box of strawberries in the freezer was found open with torn plastic wrap, exposing the fruit to air. An individually wrapped glazed donut was stored in a baggie with illegible labeling, and an undated, unlabeled bag of red juice was found under the juice dispenser, not connected to the machine. A kitchen employee removed this juice bag upon noticing the surveyor's attention. Further, the facility failed to properly store cleaning equipment, as a mop was found stored head-side down in the drain compartment of a mop bucket and later leaning against the wall with the mop head up, both of which do not comply with professional standards for air-drying and preventing contamination. The Dietary Manager confirmed that the mop was not stored correctly and attempted to address the issue during the survey. These observations were made during kitchen inspections and were supported by a review of facility policy and the FDA Food Code, which require proper storage of food and cleaning equipment.