Failure to Maintain Sanitary Conditions in Kitchen Ice Machine
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed that the facility failed to maintain sanitary conditions in its only kitchen, specifically regarding the cleaning and maintenance of the ice machine located in the steam table room. During an inspection, visible pink debris and dark brown specks were found on the ice chute, and a paper towel swipe confirmed the presence of these substances. Interviews with dietary and maintenance staff revealed confusion over responsibility for deep cleaning the ice machine, with dietary staff performing only surface cleaning and maintenance staff unsure of their role. The dietary manager, who had been at the facility for a month, was unaware of any recent deep cleaning, and the maintenance supervisor recalled cleaning the machine only once, several months prior. Further review of the manufacturer's maintenance manual indicated that the ice machine should be descaled and sanitized at least every six months, and that extremely dirty machines must be taken apart for thorough cleaning. The administrator confirmed that there was no outside vendor for cleaning and that there was no clear assignment or logging of deep cleaning duties. This lack of regular, thorough cleaning and unclear staff responsibilities led to unsanitary conditions in the kitchen's ice machine.