Deficient Food Storage, Labeling, and Kitchen Sanitation
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that food was labeled, stored, and prepared under sanitary conditions, as well as to maintain cleanliness and proper functioning of kitchen equipment. During an observation tour, multiple food items on the steam table were found covered in plastic wrap and labeled with preparation dates, but the reason for their placement was unclear, and a box of powdered sugar was open, unsealed, and unlabeled. In the walk-in refrigerator, a carton of liquid whole eggs was found open and without an open date, and in the walk-in freezer, a large package of meat was wrapped in plastic wrap but not labeled or dated. The freezer also had ice buildup due to a door latch that did not secure properly, and there was no record of maintenance being notified about this issue for several months. Further observations revealed that coffee cups described as clean and ready for use had an orange-colored film inside, and a ceiling fan above the dishwasher and dish area was covered with a buildup of fuzzy grey matter. In a pantry refrigerator, a box of take-out chicken brought in by family was found with only a room number written on it, lacking the required resident name and date. Staff interviews confirmed that perishable foods brought in by family should be labeled with the resident's name and date, and items older than three days should be discarded, but these procedures were not followed. The facility's policies required food service employees to comply with safe food handling practices, proper labeling and storage of perishable foods, and regular cleaning and maintenance of equipment. However, these policies were not consistently implemented, as evidenced by the lack of labeling, improper storage, unclean equipment, and failure to report or address maintenance issues in a timely manner. These deficiencies affected the majority of residents receiving meals from the kitchen.