Finding Description
Based on facility policy review, observation, and interview the facility failed to maintain a sanitary kitchen with undated, expired, open to air, and undated with use by date, in 1 of 2 refrigerators, and in 2 of 2 freezers and failed to maintain a sanitary kitchen with debris in 1 of 3 plastic storage bins, and unsanitary use of food temperature thermometers. The facility failed to maintain a sanitary kitchen with dietary staff not using appropriate hand hygiene, undated, unlabeled, undated with a use by date, and food items stored inappropriately under 1 of 1 steam tables and failed to maintain kitchen equipment in a sanitary manner. The facility failed to maintain a sanitary kitchen with the use of an unsanitary cup at 1 of 1 drink stations in the kitchen with debris in 1 of 2 plastic containers, and open to air food items on counters in the kitchen potentially affecting 59 of 61 residents.
The findings include:
Review of the facility policy titled, Food Preparation, dated 9/2017 revealed, .All staff will practice proper hand washing techniques and glove use .All food contact equipment, and food contact surfaces will be cleaned and sanitized after every use .
Review of the facility's policy titled, Food Storage Dry Goods, dated 9/2017 revealed, .All dry goods will be appropriately stored .
Review of the facility policy titled, Environment dated 9/2017 revealed, .All food preparation areas, food service areas .will be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition .
Review of the facility policy titled, Equipment, dated 9/2017 revealed All foodservice [food service] equipment will be clean .sanitary .All equipment will be routinely cleaned .
Review of the facility policy titled, Food Storage Cold Storage, dated 4/2018 revealed, .All foods will be stored wrapped or in covered containers, labeled and dated .
Review of the facility's guideline titled, Labeling and Dating, undated revealed, .Guidelines for Labeling and Dating .All food should be dated upon receipt before being stored .Food labels must include .The food item name .The date of preparation .removal from freezer .Use By dating Guidelines .The manufactures expiration date, when available, is the use by for unopened items .
Review of the facility's policy titled, Infection Control Overview Policy, undated revealed, .[Name of the Dietary Contracted Company] promotes the health and safety of all employees, as well as that of the clients we serve .Standard precautions for .dining service employees .Proper hand hygiene .
During an observation on 4/18/2022 at 9:40 AM, in the kitchen, of the reach in refrigerator with the Dietary Manager (DM) revealed:
- 1 whole peanut butter jelly sandwich undated and available for resident use.
- Two 1/2 peanut butter sandwiches undated and available for resident use.
- 1 pack of approximately 20 unopened pieces of salami with a use by date of 1/2022 (expired 3 months ago) available for resident use.
- 4 pieces of sliced turkey in a plastic bag undated and available for resident use.
- One 2.5-pound bag of shredded mild cheddar cheese open to air and available for resident use.
- 1.5-pound bag of shredded mozzarella cheese undated, unlabeled, and available for resident use.
- 1 whole cabbage lying on a shelf, not in a container, undated, unlabeled and available for resident use.
- 2.5-pound bag of shredded lettuce opened to air, dated 3/31/2022 (17 days old), and with no use by date.
During an interview on 4/18/2022 at 9:41 AM, the DM confirmed the facility failed to maintain a sanitary kitchen with undated, expired, open to air, unlabeled, and undated with a use by date food items available for resident use in the reach in refrigerator.
During an observation on 4/18/2022 at 9:59 AM, of the kitchen, in the reach in freezer, located near the stove, with the DM revealed:
- Approximately 25 pounds of crinkle cut sliced carrots located in a box in a bag open to air and available for resident use.
- Approximately 1 pound of raw green beans located in a box in a bag open to air and available for resident use.
- Appropriately 15 pounds of whole kernel corn in a bag open to air and available for resident use.
- 1/2 pound of French fries in a bag undated, undated with no use by date, and available for resident use.
During an interview on 4/18/2022 at 10:00 AM, the DM confirmed the facility failed to maintain a sanitary kitchen with open to air, undated, and undated with a use by date food items available for resident use in the reach in freezer.
During an observation on 4/18/2022 at 10:14 AM, of the kitchen and storage room, with the DM revealed:
- One plastic storage bin of packets of saltine crackers with powdered beige debris located in the bottom of the storage bin.
During an interview on 4/18/2022 at 10:14 AM, the DM confirmed the facility failed to maintain a sanitary kitchen with beige powdered debris in the plastic storage bin. Continued interview revealed the DM stated the bin should have been emptied and cleaned.
During an observation on 4/18/2022 at 10:17 AM, of the kitchen, of the meat freezer located in the storage room, with the DM revealed:
- 8 hot dogs in a bag open to air, undated, unlabeled, and available for resident use.
- 49 precook Salisbury steak patties located in a box in a bag open to air, undated, unlabeled, undated with a use by date, and available for resident use.
- 69 uncooked frozen hamburger patties located in a box in a bag open to air, undated, unlabeled, undated with a use date and available for resident use.
During an interview on 4/18/2022 at 10:17 AM, the DM confirmed the facility failed to maintain a sanitary kitchen with open to air, undated, unlabeled, and undated with a use by date food items available for resident use in the meat freezer.
During an observation on 4/18/2022 at 11:36 AM, of the kitchen, revealed the DM removed a vegetable quiche prepared for the residents in the facility's lunch from the stove and placed the quiche on the counter preparation station opposite the stove. The DM informed the Dietary [NAME] (DC) #1 to take the temperature of the quiche. DC #1 picked up the previously used thermometer lying on the steam table surrounded by used alcohol wipes and food debris. The DC #1 then placed the unsantizied thermometer in the center of the quiche. Further observation revealed the quiche was to be served to the residents for lunch on the tray line.
During an interview on 04/18/2022 at 11:57 AM, the DM confirmed the facility failed to maintain a sanitary kitchen environment by using an unsanitary food thermometer to test the temperatures of food available for resident use.
During an observation on 4/18/2022 at 11:44 AM, in the kitchen, of dietary staff, performing food temperature checks during lunch preparation, revealed the Dietary Aid (DA) #1 donned clean gloves and walked around the kitchen area touching 3 kitchen surface preparation tables while wearing the same gloves. DA #1 then returned to the preparation table located near the steam table while wearing the same unsanitary gloves and retrieved a clean thermometer and placed the thermometer in a cup of water. DA #1 then used the thermometer to obtain food temperatures of one 8-ounce tea and one 8-ounce honey milk. Further observation revealed DA #1 then returned to the food preparation table located next to the steam table then clean the thermometer with alcohol prep pads, walked to the trash can, lifted the lid of the dirty trash and discarded the used alcohol pads while wearing the same unsanitary donned gloves. Continued observation revealed while wearing the same donned gloves the DA #1 obtained the food temperature of cut peaches in one individual desert bowl on the preparation table without removing the unsanitary gloves and without sanitizing her hands.
During an interview on 4/18/2022 at 11:49 AM, in the kitchen, DA #1 confirmed she did not remove her gloves, and did not sanitize her hands after touching the preparation tables and trash can lid.
During an interview on 4/18/2022 at 11:50 AM, the DM confirmed the facility failed to maintain a sanitary kitchen with staff not performing appropriate hand hygiene while handling resident's foods and while performing food temperature checks on foods available for resident use during lunch. Continued interview revealed the DM stated, She should have washed her hands and changed her gloves.
During an observation on 4/19/2022 at 2:03 PM, in the kitchen, on a shelve under the steam table with the DM revealed:
- 1 hard plastic cereal bowl with a disposable lid which contained an orange-colored powdered substance undated, unlabeled, undated with a use by date, and available for resident use.
- 1 hard plastic cereal bowl with a cracked disposable lid labeled cheese and dated 4/11/2022 (8 days old). Continued observation revealed approximately 3 tablespoons of orange colored cheese with green mold scattered throughout the bowl which was available for resident use.
During an interview on 4/19/2022 at 2:09 PM, revealed the DM was unable to name the orange powdered substance located in 1 of the cereal bowls. Continued interview confirmed the cheese was not to be stored at room temperature and should be stored in the refrigerator to prevent spoiling and mold. Further interview confirmed the facility failed to maintain a sanitary kitchen with undated, unlabeled, undated with no use by date, and storage of food items at non appropriate food temperatures. Interview confirmed the food items were available for resident use and should have been discarded.
During an observation on 4/19/2022 at 2:11 PM, in the kitchen, of the microwave with the DM revealed:
- black and orange food debris inside of the microwave.
During an interview on 4/19/2022 at 2:14 PM, the DM confirmed the facility failed to maintain a sanitary kitchen with debris located in the microwave.
During an observation on 4/19/2022 at 2:18-2:29 PM, of the kitchen, of the resident drink station with the DM revealed:
- One 8-ounce white Styrofoam cup covered in dark brown colored debris with the word tea handwritten in a black marker on the cup over 20 times. Continued observation revealed the Styrofoam cup covered 1 of the 3 handles on the right side of the coffee/tea dispenser and touched the spout of the coffee/tea dispenser.
- On the metal shelf below the coffee/tea drink station was a clear 20-quart plastic container containing loose packets of tea. Continued observation revealed approximately 4 tablespoons of a loose dark brown powdered substance scattered throughout the container.
During an interview on 4/19/2022 at 2:31 PM, the DM confirmed the facility failed to maintain a sanitary kitchen with an unsanitary Styrofoam cup touching the spout and handle of the coffee/tea dispenser, and a container with loose dark brown powdered substance located in the bottom of a food container. The DM stated the container should have been cleaned and emptied when it was soiled.
During an observation on 4/19/2022 at 2:33 PM, of the kitchen, of the metal preparation table located next to the refrigerator, with the DM revealed 3 individual sugar cookies and 1 chocolate chip cookie in clear plastic bags open to air and available for resident use.
During an interview on 4/19/2022 at 2:35 PM, the DM confirmed the facility failed to maintain a sanitary kitchen with open to air food available for resident use. The DM stated the cookies should be in a tight fitting bag.