Uncovered Food Trays Transported During Meal Service
Penalty
Summary
During an observation of the evening meal service on the second floor, surveyors noted that an open food transport cart containing three full trays of mini pizza was being moved from the elevator toward the kitchenette near the dining room. The trays of pizza were not covered during transport from the kitchen on the first floor to the second floor dining area. In an interview, the Dietary Manager confirmed that the trays should have been covered during transport and acknowledged that they were not. This practice was not consistent with professional standards for food service safety and had the potential to affect 35 residents who received meals from the second floor kitchenette. The facility census at the time was 72, with 15 residents identified as not eating by mouth (NPO).