Failure to Properly Store, Label, and Discard Expired and Spoiled Food Items
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed multiple failures in food storage and handling within the facility's kitchen areas. In the walk-in cooler, expired and spoiled food items were found, including a bag of peeled garlic past its use-by date, grape tomatoes with shriveling and white fuzzy substance, wilted and undated spinach, shriveled jalapeno peppers, discolored cilantro, undated bags of romaine lettuce with brown and watery leaves, coleslaw mix past its use-by date, limes with brown spots, and an opened, undated container of sour cream. Staff interviews confirmed that the expectation was for all opened food to be labeled and dated, expired food to be discarded, and spoiled items to be removed. The Dietary Manager indicated that the supervisor on duty was responsible for these checks, and noted her own absence due to illness during the relevant period. Further deficiencies were identified in the walk-in freezer and reach-in freezer. An opened and undated bag of butternut squash was found in the walk-in freezer, and an opened, undated, and partially uncovered box of turkey breakfast patties was found in the reach-in freezer. Staff interviews reiterated the expectation for all opened food to be labeled, dated, and properly covered. The Administrator confirmed these expectations during interviews. These observations demonstrate a failure to consistently follow professional standards for food storage, labeling, and spoilage prevention.