Failure to Properly Label, Date, and Discard Resident and Kitchen Food Items
Penalty
Summary
Surveyors identified deficiencies in food handling and storage practices in the facility kitchen during an observation with the Dietary Supervisor (DS). In one refrigerator, an undated clear plastic bag containing a cup of food brought in by a family member was stored on the bottom shelf and labeled only with a resident’s room number, without a date indicating when it was brought into the facility. The DS stated that food prepared and cooked by family members for residents was stored in this refrigerator and should be discarded after 24 hours for resident safety. Review of the facility’s policy titled “Foods brought by family or visitor” indicated that perishable prepared foods must be checked by designated dietary staff, discarded after 24 hours of storage, stored in the facility kitchen, and labeled with the resident’s name, location, and date. In the same kitchen, surveyors observed a clear plastic container of strawberries dated 2/27/2026 in Refrigerator 2 with visible black/green discoloration consistent with a mold-like substance on several strawberries. The DS acknowledged that the strawberries had not been checked for spoilage or mold and stated that staff should ensure food items are fresh and safe to use and discard them if not. In another refrigerator (Refrigerator 3), an opened package of hamburger buns was stored without an open date label. The DS confirmed the buns did not have an open date and stated that food items should have an open date label to follow guidelines on when to use the food item by. Review of facility policies on “Storing Produce” and “Labeling and dating of foods” showed requirements to check produce for spoiled items and discard them upon delivery, and to mark commercially processed, ready-to-eat cold foods stored more than 24 hours with a use-by date, which were not followed in these instances.
We Help Long-Term Care Teams Stay Survey-Ready
We process and analyze inspection reports and plan of correction using AI to extract insights and trends so providers can improve care quality and stay ahead of compliance risks.