Improper storage of refrigerated and dry food items was observed when sliced ham and turkey breast were labeled with an orange sticker marked good thru a prior date, and multiple containers of thickened orange juice and cranberry juice were found expired and available for resident use. The Dietary Manager and Head Chef confirmed the items were expired or past the labeled date.
Unsanitary kitchen conditions were observed, including heavy grease and food debris on the deep fryer, prep tables, storage bins, walls, and steam table glass, with a slippery floor around the stove and fryer. Staff were also observed handling food and equipment improperly at the steam table by using gloved hands to move melted cheese, wiping food off a resident’s plate with an apron, and cleaning a thermometer probe on the apron before disinfecting it. In addition, staff could not accurately test chemical levels in the 3-compartment sink and reported they had not been trained on the process.
Kitchen and equipment were found dirty and unsanitary, including a food processor, electric can opener, toaster, drawer, cutlery tray, reach-in freezer, hanging light fixtures, and HVAC vents/grills with visible debris and crusted buildup. The CNA, CDM, and MD all confirmed the items and surfaces were not clean and sanitary.
Unsanitary fixed kitchen cooking equipment was observed in the kitchen, including a convection oven, tilt skillet, and front oven with dried, dark brown food debris on multiple surfaces. The DM confirmed the equipment was unclean and in an unsanitary condition, and the facility policy required all food-handling equipment to be cleaned and sanitized.
Food items in the kitchen were found stored without required labels, use-by dates, expiration dates, or stock dates. Surveyors observed unlabeled and undated items in the walk-in refrigerator, freezer, and dry storage, including scrambled egg mixture, watermelon halves, chicken breast, spinach, tater tots, chicken nuggets, fish strips, pork loins, rice, flour, ravioli, soup, and other items. The CDM confirmed several items lacked proper dating and acknowledged some dates were incorrect or missing.
Kitchen Sanitation Deficiencies: The facility failed to maintain a clean and sanitary kitchen environment. Observations found brown particles in and on the deep fryer and baskets, an oil-like substance dripping onto the floor, dried substances on food storage container lids and sides, splattered residue on metal racks, a burnt black buildup on the stove, sticky brown residue on the tabletop mini grill, and a black substance between the plastic barrier and the handwashing sink. The CDM acknowledged these conditions should not have been present.
Walk-In Freezer Not Maintained in Proper Repair: The dietary area walk-in freezer was observed at 9 degrees F, outside the facility’s policy range, with heavy ice buildup on the floor, shelving, door surfaces, fan housing, and food packaging. The ice prevented the door from closing fully, and the door had a broken gasket, condensation, and warping. The DM confirmed the freezer had been out of range and in disrepair for about two months, and the Maintenance Director stated the issue had been present since about February and had worsened over time.
Expired orange juice was found in the 2nd floor nourishment room refrigerator, with five unopened 10 oz bottles past the expiration date and still available for resident use. Facility policy required refrigerated foods to be stored properly and expiration dates to be used to ensure food safety, and the CDM confirmed the items were expired.
Unclean kitchen equipment and improper food storage and labeling. Surveyors observed a freezer, ovens, fryer, can opener, cutting board, stock pot, and ice machine with grease, residue, and unknown substances. They also found expired turkey salad, unlabeled and undated eggs and a sandwich, and multiple bread and bun items with past prep/use-by dates, while the FSD confirmed several items were not clean and the nourishment room refrigerator contained an undated sandwich.
Improper Storage of Food in Patient & Family and Bistro Refrigerators: The facility failed to store resident food according to policy when the Patient & Family refrigerator and Bistro refrigerator contained multiple unlabeled, undated, expired, and uncovered items. Observations found an opened can of lemonade, expired nutritional supplements and yogurt, undated containers and sandwiches, and 5 undated roast beef and cheese sandwiches in the Bistro fridge. An LPN and the CDM stated these items should not have been in the refrigerators.
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