Improper Food Storage and Unsanitary Kitchen Conditions
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to store food in accordance with professional standards for food service safety and did not maintain a sanitary kitchen environment. During a kitchen tour with the Dietary Manager, multiple food items were found improperly stored or expired in various areas, including the kitchen prep area, walk-in refrigerator, walk-in freezer, and dry storage. Specific issues included undated or expired spices, containers of food without labels or use-by dates, expired prepared foods, open and uncovered packages, and undated loaves of bread. Dietary staff confirmed that bread was not labeled with expiration or use-by dates, and the Dietary Manager acknowledged that open and prepared foods should be labeled and sealed, which was not consistently done. Additionally, during observations on two separate days, multiple areas of the ceiling in the kitchen prep and dish room were found to be covered with thick dust. The Dietary Manager stated that housekeeping staff were responsible for cleaning these areas, but this had not been done in several months. These findings indicate a lack of adherence to professional standards for food storage and kitchen sanitation, with the potential to impact all residents in the facility.