Unapproved Home-Prepared Food Served to Residents
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that food served to residents was procured from approved sources and prepared in accordance with professional standards. Specifically, a staff member prepared lasagna at home and brought it into the facility to serve to residents as part of a special meal request. This food was not obtained from the facility's contracted food service supply company, and there was no documentation that the lasagna's temperature was checked prior to serving, as required for safe food handling. The incident affected eight residents out of the 36 residing in the facility. Multiple staff interviews confirmed that the lasagna was prepared offsite by a CNA and brought into the facility, with some staff expressing uncertainty or concern about whether this practice was permitted. The CNA admitted to making and bringing in the lasagna after initially denying it, stating that she did so at the residents' request. Other staff, including an RN and an LPN, acknowledged the event and noted that there was confusion regarding the facility's policy on outside food, with some believing it was allowed if residents could order food from restaurants. However, concerns were raised that food from restaurants is subject to health department inspections, unlike food prepared in a staff member's home. The Dietary Manager was not present when the incident occurred and only learned about it afterward. She confirmed that the facility's policy did not directly address staff bringing in home-prepared food for residents and that, typically, special meal requests were fulfilled by dietary staff using food from approved sources within the facility's kitchen. The food temperature log for the meal in question did not show that the lasagna's temperature was checked, and the Dietary Manager acknowledged that food prepared outside the facility could not be verified for safe handling or ingredient quality.