Unsanitary Grease and Debris Buildup on Kitchen Stove Hood and Sprinklers
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified a deficiency related to unsanitary conditions of the kitchen stove hood that had the potential to affect all 58 residents who dine in the facility. During a kitchen tour with the Dietary Manager (DM), the stove hood above a regularly used griddle/stove was observed to have a significant amount of built-up greasy debris on the back panels and sprinklers, with the back panels appearing to have a furry substance completely covering them and the sprinklers. There was also stringy, dark debris hanging from one of the sprinklers directly above the food preparation area. The service sticker on the hood showed it was last serviced on 11/26/25 with the next service scheduled for May 2026, and a work order confirmed the kitchen exhaust system was scheduled for cleaning every 180 days for two years. During the interview, the DM acknowledged noticing the buildup but stated she had been told not to clean the hood because it would void the warranty. The facility’s Sanitation policy required all food service areas to be kept clean, sanitary, and free from litter and rubbish, and the observed condition of the stove hood did not meet this standard. No specific residents were individually identified in the report; the deficiency was cited as having the potential to affect all residents who receive meals prepared in the kitchen.
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