F0812

E

Failure to Enforce Beard Guard Use in Kitchen Dishwashing Area

Madisonville, Texas Survey Completed on 01-27-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

Surveyors identified a deficiency in the facility’s food service sanitation practices when a dietary aide was observed working in the kitchen dishwashing area without a beard guard. During the observation, the aide, who had facial hair approximately 3–4 inches long around his chin, was standing over clean plates in the dishwashing section of the kitchen. In an interview immediately afterward, the aide acknowledged he was expected to wear a beard guard anytime he was in the kitchen area and stated he had been in-serviced on this requirement, though he could not recall the date. He also stated that hair carries germs and that if hair fell onto plates and transferred to residents’ food, there was a possibility residents could develop stomach issues.

The Dietary Manager confirmed in an interview that hair nets or caps and beard guards on facial hair are required for all staff while in the kitchen and stated it was her responsibility to ensure male staff wore beard restraints. She acknowledged that failure to wear hair restraints could result in hair falling on clean plates that might then be used for meals, and that residents ingesting such hair could become physically ill with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea, depending on the bacteria present on the hair. The Administrator similarly stated that all staff in the kitchen are expected to wear hair restraints, that all kitchen staff are responsible for doing so, and that the Dietary Manager is ultimately responsible for ensuring compliance. Review of the facility’s 2023 Employee Hygiene for Food Safety policy showed it requires all food and nutrition services employees to wear hair restraints, including beard restraints, to prevent hair from contacting exposed food.