F0925

D

Failure to Maintain Kitchen Sanitation and Coordinate Pest Control in Main Kitchen

New Bern, North Carolina Survey Completed on 02-06-2026

Penalty

Fine: $24,850

Summary

The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to maintain effective kitchen sanitation and food storage practices to deter pests, and failure to communicate effectively with contracted pest control technicians regarding contributing factors to pest activity in the main kitchen. Pest control records showed repeated findings of roaches and sanitation problems over several months. A pest control technician documented roaches in the kitchen and sanitation issues such as food and grease buildup under the cook/steam line and on the kitchen floor, with repeated notations to "please clean regularly." A local health department inspection of the main kitchen later identified a large number of roaches in an electrical box above the three-compartment sink, general floor cleaning deficiencies, lack of cleaning under food equipment and shelving in the walk-in cooler, walk-in freezer, and dry storage, as well as wall damage throughout the kitchen.

Subsequent pest control invoices continued to note pest activity and sanitation problems in the kitchen, including cockroaches coming out of the trash disposal door and other areas, dirty floor drains, dirty strainers, and floors that were consistently wet. Technicians repeatedly documented that standing water and food debris were present during most services and that these conditions could cause pest problems, again instructing the facility to clean regularly and keep the kitchen as dry as possible. One technician later documented structural concerns that could cause pest problems, including holes and gaps throughout the kitchen and peeling wall covering, along with food debris throughout the kitchen. The facility could not produce documentation of all follow-up night services that technicians reported they intended to perform, and there was a gap in available pest control records for certain months.

During on-site kitchen observations, surveyors found a dead roach behind the ice machine and a live roach in a kitchen corner, open and improperly sealed dry food items such as cereal and grits in dry storage, and food crumbs and miscellaneous items under shelving, including loose cereal, a dried orange peel, snack items, beverage containers, a loose cigarette, and shoes. There was a 12-inch span of dried black grease under the oven, and a portion of wall covering was peeling near the sink. Staff interviews revealed that dietary staff were expected to sweep and clean nightly, but the posted cleaning schedule did not include the dry storage area. The part-time Dietary Manager reported she had created a cleaning schedule that included dry storage but was told to use a corporate schedule that did not. Pest control technicians reported consistently seeing sanitation issues such as trash and food particles on the floor, wet floors around the ice machine, food left in the dishwasher food trap, and an unrinsed prep sink during their visits. Maintenance and administrative staff reported that pest control technicians did not routinely communicate structural or sanitation issues directly to them, and that the facility did not routinely receive or review detailed pest control invoices noting these problems.