F0812

F

Widespread Unsanitary Food Storage, Preparation, and Equipment Conditions in Kitchen

Lauderdale Lakes, Florida Survey Completed on 03-03-2026

Penalty

No penalty information released

Summary

The deficiency involves the facility’s failure to procure, store, prepare, and serve food in a safe and sanitary manner in the kitchen and food storage areas, with the potential to affect 154 residents. During a kitchen tour with the Kitchen Supervisor, Kitchen Manager, and Director of Food and Nutrition Services, surveyors observed an open tall gray garbage bin near the Vulcan stove, with no garbage bin near the handwashing area. Two red buckets identified as sanitizing solution were tested and showed no active quaternary ammonium sanitizer, as the test strips remained yellow instead of turning green-blue. A plastic bin holding bananas contained small round beige debris, a piece of white paper, brown/black debris, and a hair. In the pot washing room, a garbage bin was located very close to the mixer, which should be maintained in a clean area away from garbage. Three AC vents above the tray line had caked-on dark gray matter extending onto the surrounding ceiling.

Multiple issues were identified in the walk-in refrigerator and other cold storage. Ricotta cheese with a manufacturer’s expiration date of 02/01/26 had expired and had clusters of dark black-green spots on the exterior top of the container. An open 12‑pound container of chocolate frosting with an expiration date of 01/31/26 was also expired and had thick green substance and clusters of green matter on the exterior grooves. A plastic container of pureed pumpkin labeled as prepared on 02/04/26 with a use‑by date of 02/11/26 had visible spherical matter with spore-like projections on the top layer. A plastic container with a piece of beef in the walk‑in refrigerator had no date, and the Kitchen Manager did not know how long it had been stored. A case of Mighty Shakes labeled “Keep Frozen” and dated 01/31/26 was found in a reach‑in refrigerator in an unfrozen state, and neither the Director of Food and Nutrition Services nor the Kitchen Supervisor knew how long it had been there. Two plastic containers of ice cream toppings with handwritten expiration dates of 10/20/25 were expired, and one opened container of beige, crunchy topping remained in storage.

Additional unsanitary conditions and improper storage were observed throughout the kitchen and dry storage areas. The juice machine had a buildup of pink and yellow‑orange residue. The Vulcan tilt skillet handle and oven temperature knob had thick yellow‑brown residue in grooves, with particles on the skillet surface; the adjacent grill had yellow and yellow‑brown food remnants on the cooking surface, borders, and backsplash, and food remnants were present on the counter between the counter and grill. The Vulcan oven had dried yellow‑brown liquid on the ledge, brown residue on the interior door, and black buildup on the oven floor, despite being reported as cleaned weekly. In the dry goods room, cans had white granules on top, one can of evaporated milk was dented and not separated, the floor had stuck‑on brown‑black residue, pasta was on the floor near shelving wheels, and shelves showed yellow‑brown stuck‑on residue and dried drippings. Muffin pans had rust‑colored debris, white residue, and food particles. A slicing machine stored on a shelf had a dead roach on it, with a bottle of disinfectant spray stored next to it. Rubbermaid containers of sugar, lentils, and dried peas were sticky with yellow and brown residue on the exterior; the top of a rolling toaster had dried dark brown greasy spills; the interior of an Amana microwave had yellow‑brown buildup; and a plastic bag of personal instant coffee was stored on a lower shelf in the food production area.