Failure to Maintain Sanitary Steam Tables and Toaster in Dining Areas
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified a deficiency related to food service sanitation and equipment maintenance when observing all four dining room steam tables and a toaster in one dining area. Policy review showed the facility’s Resident Rights policy guarantees residents a safe, clean, comfortable environment, and the facility’s steam table cleaning policy requires daily draining of water, cleaning, and sanitizing of the units. The 2022 Food Code requires food-contact surfaces to be free of encrusted grease and soil, and non-food-contact surfaces to be free of dust, dirt, food residue, and other debris. During the tour, steam tables at stations one, two, and three were observed with brown liquid containing floating particles in the compartments, brown corrosion on the sides, and dried food present. The steam table at station four contained dark brown liquid with floating particles in all compartments, and the toaster at station four was covered with food crumbs, stained black, and had dried food on the top, sides, and counter below. Further observation with the Food Service Manager confirmed that the water in all steam table compartments at all four stations was brown with floating particles. In interviews, the cook stated the steam tables were supposed to be cleaned daily, including changing the water, but acknowledged this was not occurring and could not state when the water was last changed. The Food Service Manager confirmed that all unit steam tables had brown water with floating particles, that they should be cleaned and sanitized daily, and that they were unaware of when the water was last changed. The Food Service Manager also confirmed the toaster at station four was soiled and needed replacement. The Administrator acknowledged that dietary sanitation needed improvement and that there was no process improvement plan in place. These actions and inactions affected the sanitation of food service equipment used by approximately 170 residents who utilized the dining area for meals.
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