Failure to Properly Store, Label, and Date Food Items in Kitchen and Refrigeration Areas
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed multiple instances of improper food storage, labeling, and dating in the facility's kitchen, freezer, and walk-in refrigerator. Items found included bags of unidentified food, opened and unlabeled freezer bags of French fries, hamburger patties, hashbrowns exposed to air, a half-eaten ice cream sandwich, and clear cups with an orange substance, all lacking labels or dates. In the walk-in refrigerator, there were sealed and opened containers of vegetable base, butter, bowls of water with celery and carrots, a bowl of whole onions, peppers, and tomatoes, and a box of cucumbers, none of which were labeled or dated. These observations were made during a kitchen sanitation review. Interviews with kitchen staff, the dietary manager (DM), and the administrator (ADM) revealed that all kitchen staff were responsible for labeling and dating food, but there was confusion regarding the existence and implementation of a formal policy. The ADM initially stated there was no policy for labeling and storage, while the registered dietitian (RD) indicated that in-service training and handouts on labeling and dating had been provided. Record review confirmed that a dietary in-service had been conducted, outlining procedures for proper food storage, labeling, and dating, but these procedures were not being consistently followed as evidenced by the observations.