Failure to Properly Store, Label, and Remove Unsafe Food Items
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors observed multiple failures in food storage and handling within the facility's kitchen. Uncovered and unlabeled single-serve garden salad and red gelatin portions were found in the refrigerator, along with covered but undated ranch dressing containers. Staff interviews confirmed that these items should have been covered and labeled according to facility policy. In the walk-in refrigerator, peeled white onions and an opened package of prosciutto were found without covers or dates. Additionally, five rotten lettuce heads, described as dark brown, yellow, soggy, and moist, were stored in a transparent bag that was dripping fluid and placed on top of a box containing individual romaine lettuce heads in an unsealed bag. Staff acknowledged that these practices did not comply with facility policy and that the rotten lettuce should not have been stored in the refrigerator. A review of the facility's food safety policy confirmed requirements for labeling, dating, and covering refrigerated foods, as well as inspecting food upon delivery and removing any damaged or questionable items from use. The invoice review verified that the lettuce was recently delivered, and staff stated that the rotten lettuce arrived in the shipment and should have been reported to the vendor and removed from storage. All 31 residents in the facility consume food prepared by dietary services, making them potentially affected by these deficiencies in food storage and handling.