Improper Food Storage and Handling Practices in Dietary Services
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified a deficiency in the facility’s food storage and handling practices in the kitchen. During observation, an opened, unsealed cardboard box containing mushrooms was found stored in the refrigerator directly on top of onions that were inside Ziploc bags. A 4 pound 2 ounce dented can of caramel sauce dessert topping was stored on the rack with undented cans. In the dry storage area, two opened loaves of bread were not sealed properly; one loaf had the bag twisted and tucked underneath without being knotted, and the other loaf was only folded halfway and tucked underneath. The facility’s written policy required open packages of food to be stored in closed containers with covers or in sealed bags and dated as to when opened, and the FDA Food Code 2022 required food packages to be in good condition to protect contents from adulteration or contaminants and noted that dented cans may present a serious potential hazard. In interviews, the Dietary Manager stated that opened bread bags should be tied closed, dented cans should not be stored with undented cans, and food should be stored properly for food safety, acknowledging that improperly sealed food could go bad and cause stomach issues and foodborne illness, and that dented cans could allow bacteria to enter. The Dietary Manager also reported that she checked the kitchen daily to ensure proper food storage and had not noticed any issues, and she believed the cardboard box with mushrooms was stored properly. Another dietary staff member stated that opened bread should be sealed with a twist tie or knotted, did not know why the loaves were not properly stored, and also believed the cardboard box with mushrooms was stored properly, while confirming that dented cans should be removed and returned to the vendor. The Administrator stated that cardboard boxes should not be stored on top of food because they are dirty and could contaminate other items, that everything in the refrigerator should be sealed and dated, and that dented cans should not be stored with undented cans, and identified the Dietary Manager as responsible for ensuring proper food storage.
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