Failure to Monitor and Maintain Food Temperatures Leading to Ongoing Resident Complaints
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that food and drink were served at palatable and safe temperatures by not consistently taking and documenting cooking and serving temperatures for multiple meals. Review of kitchen food temperature logs on January 20, 2026 showed that no food temperatures were recorded for all three meals on January 8, for breakfast and lunch on January 9–11, for supper on January 12, for all three meals on January 13, for breakfast and lunch on January 14, for all three meals on January 15, and for breakfast and lunch on January 16–17. Both cooking and serving temperatures were missing on these dates. The facility census data indicated 65 residents, with corporate staff clarifying that one resident did not eat food from the facility kitchen, leaving 64 residents potentially affected. The Dietary Manager stated that food temperatures should be taken when food is cooked and again right before serving, and that staff should log these temperatures as they are taken. Residents reported concerns about food quality and temperature. One resident stated that the food is always cold when served. Another resident reported that the food is not good, orders out often because the food is bad, and that the food is cold most of the time, depending on when the meal is received. A third resident reported that some meals are good and some are not, and that hot food is sometimes served cold. The Dietary Manager described that food trays are delivered on an open metal cart covered with a cloth, without heated plates, closed carts, or any heating apparatus to keep food warm during delivery, and acknowledged that such equipment would be helpful to keep food warm. Resident Council minutes from October and December 2025 documented ongoing complaints under “Dietary old business,” including that residents wanted to keep the issue of cold food open, reported that coffee is cold at times, and that condiments are not always provided on meal trays.
We Help Long-Term Care Teams Stay Survey-Ready
We process and analyze inspection reports and plan of correction using AI to extract insights and trends so providers can improve care quality and stay ahead of compliance risks.