Failure to Label, Date, and Properly Store Food and Beverages
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to properly label and date trays of prepared beverages stored in the kitchen refrigerator. Multiple trays containing milk, juice, tea, and water were found without any dates or labels, and one tray had two conflicting dates. Staff interviews confirmed that the trays were prepared by various kitchen staff and placed in the refrigerator without following the required labeling and dating procedures, despite previous in-service training on this topic. The staff acknowledged that labeling and dating are necessary to track when items are placed in storage and to prevent serving expired or unsafe food. Additionally, a soup warmer containing soup was found left out overnight in the main dining room, unplugged and not warm, with the lid partially open and no date or label present. Staff interviews revealed that the soup had been put out at lunch the previous day and was not returned to the kitchen as required. Both the kitchen staff and administration confirmed that the soup should have been removed after lunch and that failure to do so could result in food safety concerns. Facility policy and previous training required all refrigerated and prepared foods to be labeled and dated, but these procedures were not consistently followed.