Avenir at Mark Twain: Cold Food, Raw Meat Served - MO
The resident had received a breakfast tray containing only a scoop of scrambled eggs and a biscuit. "His/her food was served cold and it was not enough to eat," the resident told inspectors on August 18. When CNA HH removed the tray at 9:05 A.M., the resident said the food was nasty. The aide laughed and left without offering a replacement.
The same resident appeared on inspectors' breakfast observation list again the next day, this time with scrambled eggs and a donut. "This is ridiculous," the resident said. "He/She is hungry and did not get served enough to eat. He/She is upset, tired and hungry."
Six residents identified by the facility as alert and oriented told inspectors during a group interview that dietary problems were ongoing. Food supposed to be hot arrived cold. Food was served undercooked. They had raised these issues in resident council meetings, but nothing changed.
Resident #54, who has acute kidney failure and depression, said the food was "horrible" and always arrived cold. Two months ago, the resident said, "the kitchen served raw meat to the residents."
Temperature readings taken by inspectors confirmed residents' complaints. On August 14 at 5:37 P.M., baked beans measured 103.2 degrees. A barbecue burger measured 92.3 degrees and was chewy. On the East hallway sixteen minutes later, another barbecue burger measured 95.6 degrees and was "bland and chewy."
Resident #68, who has had a stroke and heart failure, told inspectors at 5:58 P.M. that day: "He/she does not eat the food in the facility. The food does not look appetizing, and it is often cold. The food is not nutritious and does not provide the 5 food groups." The resident's family brings meals every day instead.
Another resident with diabetes and dementia said breakfast was "not good" on August 18. "The donut was not sweet and it was dry. The food served at the facility does not taste good. It is always served cold when it should be hot."
Resident #64, who has diabetes and depression, said during an afternoon interview: "The food is awful. The coffee is not hot when served. Staff do not offer refills."
Even staff confirmed the problems. CNA B told inspectors on August 14: "The food served at the facility is terrible, not good. The residents don't like the food and won't eat it. The portions are small and residents do not get enough to eat. The food is always served cold when it should be hot."
The dietary manager acknowledged the temperature failures during an interview on August 19. Food should be delivered "at a safe and palatable temperature to prevent illness," she said. But "the food has not been served at the required temperature due to broken kitchen appliances not warming the food."
Dietary Aide F agreed that "food should be served at a safe and palatable temperature and should taste good."
During the final day of inspection, the administrator and director of nursing told investigators they expected food to be served at safe and palatable temperatures. They expected staff to heat up food if it wasn't at the appropriate temperature.
But observations showed breakfast trays routinely lacked dietary slips, and residents continued receiving inadequate portions. One resident received only scrambled eggs and a donut. Another got scrambled eggs and a biscuit.
The facility's failure to maintain proper food temperatures and provide adequate nutrition affected residents with serious medical conditions including diabetes, kidney failure, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Several residents required setup assistance for eating due to cognitive impairment or physical weakness.
Federal regulations require nursing homes to serve food at proper temperatures and provide nutritionally adequate meals. The inspection found the facility failed both standards, with broken equipment cited as the underlying cause of temperature violations that had persisted long enough for residents to raise the issues repeatedly in council meetings.
The violation received a minimal harm rating but affected multiple residents across the facility's dining areas and room service deliveries.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Avenir At Mark Twain from 2025-08-20 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
Additional Resources
Data source: Official federal inspection data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Editorial process: AI-synthesized regulatory data, reviewed for accuracy by our editorial team.
Professional review: All content reviewed by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., NH EMT & BU-trained Paralegal.
Last verified: June 20, 2026 · Our methodology
AVENIR AT MARK TWAIN in BRIDGETON, MO was cited for violations during a health inspection on August 20, 2025.
The resident had received a breakfast tray containing only a scoop of scrambled eggs and a biscuit.
Health inspections identify deficiencies that facilities must correct. Violations range from minor documentation issues to serious safety concerns. Review the full report below for specific details and facility response.