Colfax Nursing: Kitchen Staff Handle Food with Dirty Gloves - LA
The August 25 incident occurred during meal preparation at Colfax Nursing and Rehab, where 74 residents depend on staff for their daily nutrition. Federal inspectors documented the contamination during a complaint investigation that revealed multiple food safety violations.
Kitchen worker S4 was preparing pureed meals when inspectors watched him put on gloves, grab the garbage can by its handle, and pull it to the preparation table. Without changing gloves, he immediately picked up cooked chicken thighs and began deboning them for the blender.
When questioned, the worker confirmed he had just moved the garbage can and then handled the chicken with the same gloves.
The dietary manager, S3, witnessed the contamination and acknowledged the worker "had just touched the garbage can and then handled the chicken with the same, contaminated gloves, but should not have."
Beard violations compounded the food safety problems. Two kitchen workers prepared and handled food without the required beard restraints, allowing facial hair to potentially contaminate meals and equipment.
The dishwasher, S5, was rolling silverware in napkins with an uncovered beard. Kitchen worker S4 also had an uncovered beard while preparing the pureed meals.
The dietary manager confirmed both employees should have been wearing beard restraints but weren't because "the facility did not have any on hand."
The facility's own policy requires staff to wash hands "after handling soiled equipment or utensils, during food preparation, as often as necessary to remove soil and contamination and to prevent cross contamination when changing tasks." The policy also mandates that "hair nets or caps and/or beard restraints are worn when cooking, preparing or assembling food to keep hair from contacting exposed food, clean equipment, utensils and linens."
Neither standard was followed during the inspection.
The violations occurred in full view of management. The dietary manager was present and acknowledged both the contaminated glove incident and the missing beard restraints, yet meal preparation continued without correction.
Federal regulations require nursing homes to procure food from approved sources and handle it according to professional standards. The inspection found the facility failed to maintain basic sanitary practices during food preparation.
Cross-contamination from garbage handling poses serious health risks to elderly residents, whose immune systems are often compromised. Touching garbage cans introduces harmful bacteria that can cause foodborne illness when transferred to ready-to-eat foods like cooked chicken.
Facial hair violations create additional contamination pathways. Uncovered beards can harbor bacteria and shed into food during preparation, particularly problematic when workers are handling utensils and preparing meals for vulnerable populations.
The inspection occurred on August 25 and 26, 2025, following a complaint about the facility. Inspectors classified the violations as having "minimal harm or potential for actual harm" affecting "some" residents, though the kitchen serves all 74 people living at the facility.
The facility's food service policy acknowledges the importance of hand hygiene and hair restraints but failed to provide basic equipment like beard covers for kitchen staff. Management's admission that they didn't have beard restraints "on hand" suggests ongoing supply issues that compromise food safety standards.
The contaminated glove incident demonstrates a fundamental breakdown in food safety training. The worker's casual confirmation that he had touched garbage and then handled food suggests a lack of awareness about cross-contamination risks.
Both violations occurred during active meal preparation, meaning contaminated food was likely served to residents. The pureed meals being prepared when the glove contamination occurred are typically served to residents with swallowing difficulties, making food safety even more critical for this vulnerable population.
The dietary manager's presence during these violations raises questions about supervisory oversight and training effectiveness. Despite witnessing the contamination, no immediate corrective action was documented during the inspection.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Colfax Nursing and Rehab, LLC from 2025-08-27 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
Additional Resources
- View all inspection reports for Colfax Nursing and Rehab, LLC
- Browse all LA nursing home inspections
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 13, 2026 · Our methodology
Colfax Nursing and Rehab, LLC in COLFAX, LA was cited for violations during a health inspection on August 27, 2025.
The August 25 incident occurred during meal preparation at Colfax Nursing and Rehab, where 74 residents depend on staff for their daily nutrition.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happened at Colfax Nursing and Rehab, LLC?
- The August 25 incident occurred during meal preparation at Colfax Nursing and Rehab, where 74 residents depend on staff for their daily nutrition.
- How serious are these violations?
- Violation severity varies from minor documentation issues to serious safety concerns. Review the inspection report for specific deficiency codes and scope. All violations must be corrected within required timeframes and are subject to follow-up verification inspections.
- What should families do?
- Families should: (1) Ask facility administration about specific corrective actions taken, (2) Request to see the follow-up inspection report verifying corrections, (3) Check if this represents a pattern by reviewing prior inspection reports, (4) Compare this facility's ratings with other nursing homes in COLFAX, LA, (5) Report any new concerns directly to state authorities.
- Where can I see the full inspection report?
- The complete inspection report is available on Medicare.gov's Care Compare website (www.medicare.gov/care-compare). You can also request a copy directly from Colfax Nursing and Rehab, LLC or from the state Department of Health. The report includes specific deficiency codes, facility responses, and correction timelines. This facility's federal provider number is 195430.
- Has this facility had violations before?
- To check Colfax Nursing and Rehab, LLC's history, visit Medicare.gov's Care Compare and review their inspection history, quality ratings, and staffing levels. Look for patterns of repeated violations, especially in critical areas like abuse prevention, medication management, infection control, and resident safety.