Improper Food Storage and Inadequate Kitchen Cleaning Practices
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified a deficiency in the facility’s main kitchen related to improper food storage and inadequate cleaning practices. During observations in the dry storage room, an open bag of cereal was found in a container whose lid was on the floor under another shelving unit. A bag of grits on a metal shelf was not sealed, with the top only rolled up. Shelf liners on this and another shelf had visible fine grainy food particles. Underneath the shelving units in dry storage, surveyors observed multiple food items and debris, including loose dry cereal, a dried orange peel, closed packets of cookies, water bottles, condiment packets, a carbonated drink, a closed bag of Cheetos, a closed pudding cup, a loose cigarette, and a pair of sandal slides. Under the kitchen oven, there was about 12 inches of black, dried grease. Staff interviews further described the circumstances leading to the deficiency. A dietary aide stated they had to be careful when cleaning under the oven because part of the oven bottom would come off. The Administrator acknowledged seeing the unsealed food items and dirty dry storage floor and reported that the former Dietary Manager had left abruptly months earlier, and the current Dietary Manager was only present one to two days per week. The Dietary Supervisor stated she typically sealed opened food if staff forgot and that staff were supposed to sweep and clean nightly, but the condition of the dry storage area suggested this had not been done. She also provided a cleaning schedule that did not include dry storage. The part-time Dietary Manager reported that her own cleaning schedule, which included dry storage, had been replaced by a corporate schedule that did not address cleaning of the dry storage room, while also stating that staff had been instructed to clean and mop nightly and to ensure all food was sealed, covered, and dated.
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