F0804

F

Failure to Maintain Proper Food Temperatures and Palatability

Silverton, Idaho Survey Completed on 01-09-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to provide food that was palatable and maintained at residents’ preferred and appropriate temperatures for all residents receiving facility-prepared meals. One resident reported that cold salads were served warm because they were placed on the hot food plate under a plate cover, and stated she preferred her salads cold and did not know why they were not served with cold beverages. Another resident refused a lunch tray when the surveyor observed that the cold salad had been placed on the hot food plate under the plate cover, while a cold fruit bowl and juice were placed next to the hot plate. Resident council minutes over several months documented repeated concerns that some foods expected to be hot were not served hot, some foods expected to be cold were not served cold, and that certain items such as mashed potatoes were watery.

On a later observation of the serving line, two items (pureed chili macaroni and regular-diet green peas) required reheating before plating, and dietary staff stated the food had been on the serving line for 30 minutes and should not have lost temperature so quickly. A test tray taken from a hall tray cart showed hot items (chili macaroni casserole, peas, toast) and cold items (cantaloupe, apple juice, milk, salad) all outside appropriate temperature parameters. The registered dietitian acknowledged that small cold salads should be kept on the cold side and not placed on the hot plate, and agreed that the test tray temperatures were out of range. The dietary manager stated he did not know why the steam table was not maintaining proper temperatures and acknowledged that cold food items should not be placed on hot plates or under plate covers.