F0801

E

Cook Worked Without Required Food Handler Certification

Cameron, Texas Survey Completed on 02-02-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

The facility failed to ensure sufficient qualified dietary staff by allowing a cook to work without a current Texas food handler certificate. Record review showed that the cook was hired as a cook on 11/25/2025, and there was no food handler certificate in her personnel file. The cook reported she began working at the end of November 2025 as a cook and believed her prior food service certificate was still active, but she could not recall when it expired and had not verified its status. She acknowledged it was expected that she have an active food handler license while preparing food.

Interviews with facility staff revealed multiple missed checks related to the cook’s required credential. The Dietary Manager, who returned to the facility on 01/26/2026, stated she was unaware the cook did not have a food handler license and that the cook had been preparing meals in the kitchen; she acknowledged it was her responsibility to verify the license and that the cook should have had it before preparing food. The HR staff stated the cook’s orientation occurred on 11/26/2025 and that a food handler class had been scheduled shortly after hire, but she did not know why the cook did not attend and had failed to verify course completion or obtain the certificate. The Administrator stated the Dietary Manager was responsible for ensuring the cook had the license and HR was responsible for filing it. The facility’s “Preventing Foodborne Illness Food Handling Policy and Procedure” stated that all employees who handle, prepare, or serve food must be trained in safe food handling and demonstrate competency prior to working with or serving food to residents.