Dishwasher Fails to Sanitize Dishes Due to Improper Temperature and Sanitizer Checks
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that the dishwasher was adequately sanitizing dishes, as observed during a survey. The dishwasher was labeled to require a minimum temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit and a sanitizer concentration of 50 parts per million (ppm). However, during three separate observations, the wash temperature reached only 110 degrees Fahrenheit and the rinse 115 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, testing of the sanitizer did not result in a color change on the test strip, indicating improper sanitizer levels. A dietary aide operating the dishwasher did not check the water temperature or sanitizer concentration during the shift and was unsure how to perform these checks. The aide demonstrated how to turn on the dishwasher but confirmed not having tested the required parameters. The facility's policy required that the chemical solution be tested once per shift and water temperatures checked after each meal and recorded. The administrator acknowledged awareness of the dishwasher's temperature issue prior to the survey and stated that a repair part had been ordered.