Failure to Store and Maintain Food Items Safely and Sanitarily
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to store and maintain food items in a safe and sanitary manner, as evidenced by multiple expired and spoiled products found during surveyor observation. Specifically, ten loaves of wheat bread with an expiration date that had already passed were found, along with five quarts each of nectar-consistency and moderately thick Thick & Easy milk, both past their use-by dates. Additionally, an opened gallon of Sweet Baby Ray's teriyaki sauce was stored on a dry goods shelf instead of being refrigerated as required by the manufacturer's instructions. In the refrigerator, peanut butter pudding with an expired date and three bell peppers that were deteriorating and macerated were also observed. The Head of the dietary department acknowledged these findings and confirmed that dietary staff were responsible for ensuring food items were not expired, were refrigerated appropriately, and were not overly ripe. The Administrator stated that dietary staff are expected to receive regular in-service training, perform routine checks of food storage areas, and consistently follow established procedures, noting that the staff involved had been employed at the facility for an extended period and should be familiar with these tasks.