Deficient Food Storage and Labeling in Nourishment Room Refrigerators
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to adhere to professional standards for food service safety in the management of nourishment room refrigerators in two stations. At station #2, the temperature log for the nourishment refrigerator was not maintained after a certain date, and the refrigerator was observed to be operating at 52 degrees, which is above the recommended temperature for safe food storage. Several nutritional shakes inside the refrigerator were noted to be only slightly cooler than room temperature. Additionally, the staff interviews revealed confusion regarding responsibilities for maintaining the temperature log and monitoring refrigerator conditions. At station #1, the refrigerator contained multiple food items that were not labeled or dated, including a container of cut watermelon, a container with an unknown substance, and a carton of almond milk. Although a sign instructed family members to label and date all food items, these instructions were not followed. Housekeeping staff reported that they were responsible for ensuring items were labeled and dated, and would report non-compliance to their supervisor, who would then inform nursing. The facility's policy required all refrigerated food or drink brought in for residents to be labeled with the resident's name, date, and product name, but this was not consistently implemented.