Failure to Serve Palatable Meals at Required Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to serve palatable meals at appropriate temperatures in accordance with its own policy, affecting all residents receiving oral diets. During multiple meal services, observations revealed that hot foods were not maintained at the required temperatures, with measured temperatures for items such as pork, rice, and green beans falling below the facility's minimum standard of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The plate warmer was only partially functional, with hot plates available on one side and only slightly warm plates on the other. Staff attempted to compensate by transferring plates between sides during service, but this did not ensure consistent hot food delivery. Additionally, the use of warming pellets under meal plates had been discontinued about a week prior to the survey, and some staff were unaware of their availability. Resident interviews consistently described dissatisfaction with the temperature and palatability of meals. Several residents reported that their food was served cold or unappetizing, with some choosing not to eat the facility-provided meals or opting to order food from outside. Specific complaints included cold breakfasts, tough and dry meats, undercooked or overcooked vegetables, and sandwiches that were either burnt or not toasted. The Resident Council President confirmed that the discontinuation of warming pellets had negatively impacted food temperature, and multiple residents stated that hot foods were not consistently served hot. Further observations during meal service found that food quality was also lacking, with meals such as macaroni and cheese with beef described as bland, lacking seasoning, and missing cheese sauce. Vegetables were found to be mushy or overcooked, and some meals were served with large blocks of margarine rather than being properly prepared. Facility recipes indicated that certain preparation standards, such as not overcooking vegetables, were not followed. Staff interviews corroborated that the use of warming equipment had changed recently and that there were issues with the plate warmer's effectiveness.