Failure to Label, Date, and Monitor Resident Food Refrigerators and Ice Handling
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified a failure to properly label, date, and monitor food stored in resident-designated refrigerators on multiple units, as well as improper ice handling practices. On the Secured Care Unit, a refrigerator designated for resident use contained an unlabeled and undated lunch bag that an LPN confirmed was not for a resident, and six opened containers of nutritional supplements dated 12/18/25 that were expired. The temperature log for this refrigerator had no recorded temperatures for several consecutive days (02/04/26 through 02/08/26), despite the LPN acknowledging that daily temperature monitoring was required. In the same area, the ice machine’s scoop lacked a holder and was stored on a table with the dipper side up, and a wet towel was on the floor at the base of the ice machine; the LPN stated the ice machine had overflowed earlier in the week and verified the towel should not remain on the floor. On Unit 400, surveyors observed a resident-designated refrigerator containing two bags of unidentified foods with no labels or dates, a box of food dated 01/21/26 with no label, an undated bag of bread, and three pitchers of unidentified liquid that were unlabeled and undated, despite a sign on the door stating that foods must be labeled and dated. A CNA confirmed the refrigerator was for resident food storage only and verified the items were undated and unlabeled. On the Rehabilitation Unit, the resident-designated refrigerator contained an open bag of food with no label and an opened gallon container of brown liquid dated 02/07/26 that was not labeled with identifying information. An LPN on that unit confirmed the refrigerator was only for resident food storage, acknowledged the items should have been labeled, and verified there was no refrigerator temperature log for the month of February, despite the requirement for daily temperature monitoring. Review of the facility’s 2022 policy titled “Food From Approved Source” showed staff were to assist with proper food storage and handling of foods brought into the facility and that food would be dated as appropriate.
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