Failure to Serve Meals at Safe and Palatable Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that meals were delivered to residents at appropriate and palatable temperatures. Multiple sources, including a complaint, food committee meeting notes, and resident interviews, indicated ongoing concerns about food being served cold, half-cooked, and lacking in presentation and taste. Review of food service temperature logs revealed numerous instances where required temperature records were missing for various meals, and some logs were undated or incomplete. The facility's own policy required foods to be served at proper temperatures for safety, but documentation did not show that this was consistently achieved before serving residents. During direct observation, residents reported that food was always cold and that liners intended to keep food warm were rarely used. A test tray obtained during a dinner tray line observation showed that milk was served at 57 degrees, above the acceptable maximum of 41 degrees, confirming the temperature concern. The dietary manager acknowledged the issue and noted that staff had not yet been trained to use the food warming liners. The administrator was informed of these concerns during the survey.