Failure to Consistently Monitor and Document Refrigerator and Freezer Temperatures
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified a deficiency related to the facility’s failure to follow its policy and procedure titled "Refrigerators and Freezers" requiring daily monitoring and recording of refrigerator and freezer temperatures. During an interview and concurrent record review with the Dietary Supervisor in the kitchen, temperature logs for three refrigerators and two freezers for the year 2026 were reviewed. The logs showed blank entries, indicating that monitoring was not completed on specific dates and shifts. For the refrigerators labeled Produce and Breads, Milk and Dairy, and Nourishment, temperature logs were blank for the morning shift on 1/1/2026 and 1/2/2026, and for Produce and Breads and Milk and Dairy on the evening shift on 1/1/2026. For the freezers labeled Frozen Vegetables and Ice Cream and Frozen Meat, temperature logs were blank for the morning shift on 1/1/2026 and 1/2/2026, and for the evening shift on 1/1/2026. The Dietary Supervisor stated that the AM and PM cooks were responsible for ensuring timely monitoring and documentation of refrigerator and freezer temperatures and acknowledged that lack of monitoring and documenting refrigerator and freezer temperatures may cause food spoilage. Review of the facility’s policy dated 11/2022 indicated that the facility would ensure safe refrigerator and freezer temperatures and sanitation, observe food expiration guidelines, and maintain refrigerators and freezers in good working condition. The policy specified that refrigerators must keep food at or below 41°F and freezers must keep frozen foods frozen solid, and that food service supervisors or designated employees must check and record refrigerator and freezer temperatures daily with the first opening and at closing in the evening. The documented gaps in the temperature logs demonstrated that this policy was not followed on the identified dates and shifts.
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