F812 — Food Procurement / Storage / Preparation / Service
Failure to procure food from approved sources, store food in a safe manner under sanitary conditions, prepare and serve food consistent with professional standards for food service safety. Foodborne illness risk is the underlying concern.
Reg cite · 42 CFR 483.60(i)(1)(2)
340 surveys in corpus
39 states
What surveyors look for
- Reach-in and walk-in refrigerator/freezer temperature logs maintained daily
- Food storage with proper FIFO rotation, all items dated, no expired products
- Cooking and holding temperatures (135°F+ hot, ≤41°F cold) verified at service
- Hairnets, gloves, hand hygiene during prep and service
- Three-compartment sink in use with correct sanitizer concentration
Common gotchas
- Food in the walk-in not dated or undated thawed items
- Hot food on the tray line at 120°F
- Single dishwasher final-rinse temperature consistently below required range
- Open containers of leftovers in resident kitchen without facility-issued date label
- Staff with bare hands touching plated food during service
Real survey examples
From CMS-published 2567s in our corpus. Resident identifiers redacted.
Level of Harm - Minimal harm
or potential for actual harm
Residents Affected - Many
Procure food from sources approved or considered satisfactory and store, prepare, distribute and serve
food in accordance with professional standards.
Based on observations, interviews, review of the 2017 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Code,
and review of the facility's policies titled, General Food Preparation and Handling, General Sanitation of
Kitchen, Food Storage, Cleaning Dishes/Dish Machine, Cleaning Instructions: Ovens, Cleaning
Instructions: Floors, Tables and Chairs, and Cleaning Instructions…
Level of Harm - Minimal harm
or potential for actual harm
Residents Affected - Many
[date];
(2) leftover cooked carrots labeled with a use by date of [date];
(3) mozzarella cheese with a use by date of [date];
(4) leftover cooked English peas labeled with a use by date of [date];
(5) leftover cooked red beans and sausage labeled with a use by date of [date];
(6) chicken base broth- labeled with an opened date of [date] and no use by date; and
(7) beef base broth- labeled with an opened date of [date] and no use by date.
An interview was conducted on [date] at 8:48 a.m. with EI #1. EI #1 was as…
Level of Harm - Minimal harm
or potential for actual harm
Residents Affected - Many
Manager of the kitchen, to sweep out from underneath the dry storage shelving. After EI #2 swept out from
underneath the shelving, the surveyor asked EI #2 what it looked like to her. EI #2 stated it was mouse
droppings. The surveyor asked EI #2 should the mouse droppings be underneath the shelving in the dry
storage room. EI #2 stated no. EI #2 was asked what the potential harm was in the mouse droppings being
in the dry storage room. EI #2 stated bacterial infection, diseases, you do not know what they are ca…
Level of Harm - Minimal harm
or potential for actual harm
Residents Affected - Many
On [date] at 8:55 a.m., an interview was conducted with EI #2, Dietary District Support Manager. EI #2
was asked if the breaded squash, rolls and pork fritters should be left opened to air in the freezer. EI #2
stated no, it causes freezer burn. EI #2 was then asked what the potential harm was in these items being
left opened to air and not sealed in the freezer. EI #2 stated they are exposed to all kinds of germs and
elements coming into contact with them.
5.) The 2017 FDA Food Code included the following:
. 4…
Level of Harm - Minimal harm
or potential for actual harm
Residents Affected - Many
(B) . The FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES of cooking EQUIPMENT and pans shall be kept free of encrusted
grease deposits and other soil accumulations.
(C) . NONFOOD FOOD CONTACT SURFACES of EQUIPMENT shall be kept free of an accumulation of
dust, dirt, FOOD residue, and other residue.
A facility policy titled, CLEANING INSTRUCTIONS: OVENS, dated 2017, revealed: Policy: Ovens will be
cleaned as needed . Spills and food particles will be removed after each use.
On [date] at 11:02 a.m., the surveyor and EI # 2, the District …
Accepted POC examples
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