Unsanitary Kitchen Environment and Damaged Walk-In Refrigerator Flooring
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to maintain a clean and sanitary kitchen environment for food preparation for all residents consuming food prepared by the kitchen. Surveyors observed that the perimeter walls of the kitchen at counter height and below, including pipes, drains, electrical coverings, and flooring, were covered with a buildup of food particles and adhered grime. Paint was chipped, peeling, and worn on the walls, sink, and around the flooring. The exterior sides of the stove/oven were unclean with cooked-on grime, and rolling dollies holding buckets of kitchen supplies were dirty with black filth. In the walk-in refrigerator, the flooring was buckled and uneven, with an open, unjoined seam down the middle that revealed a vein of rust; when the area was cleaned, rust material puddled from under and between the seam and spread across the floor. Review of the facility’s policies titled “General Cleaning of Food & Nutrition Services Department” and “Sanitation,” both dated 2023, showed that floors were required to be maintained in good condition, walls and ceilings washed thoroughly, heavily soiled surfaces cleaned as necessary, and all equipment kept clean and in good repair. During concurrent observation and interview, the Food and Nutrition Manager confirmed that the kitchen’s perimeter walls, pipes, drains, electrical coverings, flooring, rolling dollies, and exterior of the stove were dirty, that paint was chipped, peeling, and worn on walls, sink, and around flooring, and that the walk-in refrigerator flooring was buckled, uneven, and had a rust vein that oozed and puddled when cleaned. In a separate interview, the RD confirmed the kitchen was dirty and reported that she had written reports documenting the lack of general cleanliness and sanitation. The report stated these failures had the potential to incite harmful growth of unhealthy microorganisms resulting in foodborne illness among residents consuming food from the kitchen, which could lead to sickness and disease.
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