Failure to Maintain Sanitary Kitchen and Storage Areas
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed multiple sanitation and cleanliness deficiencies in the facility's kitchen and storage areas. A 50-gallon trash can with a lid was found at the entrance of the dining room, visibly soiled with a dry white substance and food debris. In the storage area, ten one-gallon bottles of hand sanitizer were noted to be covered in a brown dried substance, and two hotel pans with lids had a dried white substance on them. Two additional 50-gallon trash cans between the storage area and dish room also had dried food debris on their lids. Gnats were seen flying in the kitchen, and the dish room floor drain was wet with visible food debris. Major kitchen equipment, including the stove, oven, fryer, tilt skillet, and steam table, were all observed to have a dried, greasy film. The ice machine had a dust-like substance inside the lid, and the floor by the tilt skillet had a wet, slimy substance, with another area of the floor showing a dried, black substance. Staff interviews confirmed awareness of the issues, with the dietary manager acknowledging the presence of old hand sanitizer bottles and the need for cleaning. The dietary manager stated there was a monthly cleaning schedule for major equipment but expected staff to clean visible dirt as needed. The administrator confirmed that there was no specific cleaning schedule, with some items cleaned after each meal, daily, weekly, or monthly. These observations and staff statements indicate that the facility failed to maintain a clean and sanitary environment for food storage, preparation, and service, potentially affecting all residents receiving nourishment from the kitchen.