F0812

E

Failure to Maintain Sanitary Kitchen and Dry Storage Conditions

Perry, Iowa Survey Completed on 01-14-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

Surveyors identified deficiencies in the facility’s kitchen and dry storage areas related to food safety and sanitation. In the main kitchen, a metal one-cup scoop with a black plastic handle was found sitting directly in a bag of stone ground whole wheat flour, and another metal one-cup scoop with a metal handle was found with its handle sitting in a bag of sugar. During observation of the dry storage room, eight cardboard boxes containing food and single-serve dinnerware were stored directly on the floor. A sticky fly strip hanging from the ceiling contained approximately half a dozen dead flies and numerous smaller mosquito-like insects. The floor of the dry storage room was stained with dried liquid residue and littered with cardboard remnants, tape, and a section of metal cove base lying on the floor. Later observation showed that while the fly strip and metal cove base had been removed, the eight boxes remained on the floor and the floor remained stained and littered with cardboard and tape.

During noon meal service, the Dietary Manager and a dietary cook prepared sandwiches on a prep table in the kitchen that were served to residents, while the metal shelf above the prep table was noted to be dirty with grime and debris and holding various items including a plastic bag holder, hot pads, labels, a food cover, two dial weight scales, and three syrup containers. Grime and debris were also noted on top of the refrigerator containing boxed juices, and the air conditioner filter in the kitchen window had accumulated fuzzy debris. Dietary staff, including a cook employed for two months and a dietary aide employed for seven months, reported they were unaware of any cleaning schedule and stated they cleaned after each meal service. The Dietary Manager, in her role since May 2025, confirmed there was no formal cleaning schedule and that staff “clean as we go.” The consultant RD agreed with concerns about general cleanliness and stated she had discussed these concerns with the facility. The Dietary Manager acknowledged the dry storage room remained unclean and stated a housekeeper would clean the floor when needed, while the housekeeper could not recall the last time she cleaned that floor and reported the door was locked and she did not have a key. The Administrator stated she expected daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning schedules and referenced prior cleaning schedules seen in the kitchen. These conditions were cited against the 2017 FDA Food Code requirements for cleaning non–food-contact surfaces and maintaining a regular cleaning schedule.