F0812

E

Noncompliant Food Handling, Hand Hygiene, and Portioning During Meal Service

Canal Winchester, Ohio Survey Completed on 01-27-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

Surveyors identified a deficiency in sanitary food preparation and handling affecting 85 residents who received meals from the facility kitchen. During a lunch tray service, one dietary staff member was observed placing plates into insulated plate bases without wearing a hair net. This staff member later confirmed not wearing a hair net during lunch service, despite a facility policy requiring all employees in the kitchen to wear hair restraints that cover all hair to prevent physical contamination of food. In a separate observation during the same meal service, the dietary manager was seen touching her own face and then continuing to serve trays without performing hand hygiene. She confirmed she did not perform hand hygiene during lunch tray service, contrary to the facility’s hand hygiene policy, which requires all staff to perform proper hand hygiene procedures to prevent the spread of infection.

Additional observations during the same lunch period showed another dietary staff member not fully filling a 3/4 cup scoop of beef stroganoff, leaving about 1/4 inch of space when serving residents who required a regular portion size. The dietary manager acknowledged that it is difficult to level some items when serving. The facility did not provide a policy regarding meal portion sizes. The facility census at the time was 87, with two residents identified as NPO, and the remaining 85 residents receiving food from the kitchen were affected by these practices. This deficiency was investigated under Master Complaint Number 2718652.