*TS: Five Sure-Fire Methods: Feeding Individuals Receiving Behavioral Health Care (PDF/QV) [REF: FD/Dt, RN] The Source, August 2015, Vol 13, #8, Pg 2 JCs1508_B2

Although this article focuses on the BHC standard, CTS.04.03.33, it also identifies a couple of key reasons for citations related to food and nutrition services that are relevant across the board. The first is that organizations “fail to watch for expiration dates and dispose of food when it is expired“. They may also not be aware that once food has been opened, its expiration date often (depending on the food) becomes significantly shorter. A second key citation issue in this area is the failure to adequately monitor temperatures for foods that require refrigeration or freezing.  To improve compliance the article recommendations include:

• 1 – Define a specific process for marking/monitoring expiration dates to include food that has been opened
• 2 – Invest in a minimum/maximum thermometer with an alarm for refrigerators and freezers.
• 3- Make sure relevant staff know correct food sanitation/storage methods,  appropriate temperature ranges for refrigerators/freezers (and what to do when temperatures are out of range)

Tip: Consider combining the process of monitoring for food expiration with that of monitoring for medication expiration.