Failure to Accommodate Resident Food Allergies and Preferences
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that meals were prepared in accordance with residents' documented allergies, intolerances, and preferences, as required by its own nutrition policy. One resident with a documented allergy to tomatoes and melon was served chicken with a red, tomato-based sauce, which the resident could not eat due to his allergy. The resident's medical record and printed meal ticket both indicated these allergies, yet the meal was still provided. The food service manager confirmed, after investigation, that the resident had indeed been served a meal containing a tomato-based sauce, contrary to his dietary restrictions. This deficiency was identified through observation, policy review, and interviews with the resident and staff, and it had the potential to affect all residents with special dietary needs who dined in the facility.