F0812

F

Cross Contamination During Hot Food Temperature Checks

Charleston, Illinois Survey Completed on 02-11-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

The facility failed to prevent cross contamination during meal service when a manager in training handled a food thermometer and other items in an unsanitary manner while checking the internal temperature of fried chicken prepared for 64 residents. During the lunch meal, which included fried chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, creamed corn, a drink, and banana pudding, the manager in training determined the fried chicken was not at a high enough internal temperature to serve, then wiped her bare hands on her pants and picked up a thermometer by the shaft with her palm and fingers making full contact. She used this contaminated thermometer to test multiple pieces of chicken in a full pan, then used potholders that were laying on a contaminated counter to return that pan to the oven and remove a second pan of chicken. She again picked up the thermometer with her palm and fingers and used the same contaminated thermometer to test additional pieces of chicken from the second pan, repeating this process with both pans two more times until the internal temperature was safe to serve, without cleaning her hands or the thermometer between uses.

The daily midnight census documented that 64 residents resided in the facility at the time of this meal service, and the contaminated thermometer and potholders were used in the preparation of food intended for these residents.