Improper Use of Broken Blender to Prepare Puree Meals
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain essential kitchen equipment in safe working order when a commercial blender used to prepare puree meals was operated with a broken cover and an improvised safety override. During observation, a cook poured canned carrots into the blender bowl, placed a broken cover onto the bowl, and used a butter knife to engage the safety mechanism and start the blender. The cook then blended canned carrots and lasagna using this same bowl with the broken cover and the butter knife to bypass the safety feature. The blender cover was observed to be cracked in several places, and the plastic portion that locked the blender bowl in place was missing and appeared to have broken off. The cook stated that the top of the blender used to puree foods was broken and that they had to work the safety with a butter knife to get the blender to operate. Six residents were identified as receiving puree meals prepared in the kitchen using this blender. No additional resident medical history or clinical conditions were documented in the report beyond the fact that six residents consumed puree meals prepared with this equipment.
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