Failure to Properly Label and Date Food Items in Kitchen Storage
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed multiple instances where food items in the facility's kitchen were not properly labeled or dated, as required by professional standards and the facility's own policies. During inspections of various refrigerators, freezers, and dry storage areas, items such as lemonade, coconut flakes, graham cracker crumbs, peanut granules, vanilla wafers, cornmeal, beef base, dinner rolls, beef taco filling, taquitos, vegetables, shredded lettuce, and carrot sticks were found without appropriate labels or use-by dates. Some items were stored in unmarked containers or bags, and a large storage bin of cornmeal was found on the floor without a label or date. Staff interviews confirmed that the expectation was for all food products to be labeled with the date received and, when opened, with an open date, but this was not consistently done. Staff members acknowledged that labeling and dating food was their responsibility and that all dietary staff were trained on these procedures upon hire. The Dietary Manager and Administrator both stated that food products should be labeled and dated according to policy, and that failure to do so could result in foodborne illness if outdated food was served. The Administrator reported conducting random checks of food products but admitted that some items may have been overlooked. Review of the facility's food storage policy confirmed the requirement for all food containers to be legibly and accurately labeled and dated, with specific procedures for storage, rotation, and use of food items.