Failure to Maintain Food Temperatures and Prevent Cross-Contamination in Kitchen
Penalty
Summary
The deficiency involves failures in food storage, preparation, and handling practices in the facility’s only kitchen, specifically related to temperature monitoring and cross-contamination prevention. During an observation of the kitchen, the surveyor requested hot and cold food temperature logs and found that temperatures were not thoroughly taken or recorded on multiple dates for various food items, including milk and juice beverages, side dishes of fruits and vegetables, and meat entrées. The Dietary Manager acknowledged the incomplete temperature logs and stated that bolded items on the log were supposed to be temperature checked, and that hot foods must be 145°F and higher and cold foods 41°F and lower to prevent spread of illness and contamination. Facility policy required temperatures of all hot and cold foods to be taken prior to every meal service and recorded on the Temperature Log, with hot foods held at 140°F or above and cold foods less than 41°F. Further observations during lunch preparation showed that staff did not consistently maintain cold holding temperatures and did not follow proper glove use to prevent cross-contamination. Two lunch trays were observed with cups of milk that were not held to maintain cold temperatures, and when the milk temperature was checked, it measured 52.7°F. In another observation, a dietary aide donned new gloves to handle raw chicken tenders and, without changing gloves, then touched sliced cheese and placed it on a hamburger intended for a resident. When questioned, the dietary aide stated that touching raw meat and then sliced cheese could get someone sick. The facility’s written procedures and the referenced FDA Food Code required single-use gloves to be used for only one task, such as working with raw animal food or ready-to-eat food, and required time/temperature control for safety foods to be maintained at 135°F or above for hot holding and 41°F or less for cold holding.
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