Improper Food Storage and Expired Items Found in Facility
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to properly seal, label, and date food items, and did not ensure expired foods were removed from storage, as required by facility policy. During an observation of the food preparation area, surveyors found multiple undated and unlabeled plastic containers of dry cereal, as well as an undated container of bow tie pasta in the dry storage area. Additionally, two cans of ripe olives with a use by date that had already passed were found available for resident use. The Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) confirmed that these dry food items were not stored according to policy and that expired food was not discarded. Further observations in the walk-in freezer revealed unsealed, unlabeled, and undated bags of hash browns and french fries, which were open to air and available for resident use. The CDM acknowledged that these frozen foods were not stored properly. These findings indicate that the facility did not follow its own policies regarding food storage, labeling, and the removal of expired items, potentially affecting 29 of 30 residents.