The October inspection revealed systematic food safety failures affecting the facility's 106 residents. Resident #86's meal tray had been placed in the main dining room at 12:05 PM but she didn't arrive until 12:45 PM. Staff made no attempt to reheat her food or offer assistance cutting it up.
"It was cold and difficult to chew," the resident told inspectors.
Only when a state surveyor offered to get her a hot replacement meal did nursing staff take action. The Director of Nursing then measured temperatures across her plate: Brussels sprouts at 65 degrees, lemon pudding at 68 degrees, rice at 68 degrees, and chicken at 79 degrees.
All temperatures fell within what the facility's own policy identifies as the danger zone — above 41 degrees but below 135 degrees.
The problems extended far beyond one cold meal. During an anonymous interview, a person reported that food is "overcooked frequently and a poor quality of food is served." They described meals as consistently cold, "never warm," with coffee so cold "it won't dissolve the creamer."
Inspectors got a firsthand look at food quality the next day. At 11:30 AM on October 15, they were served a tray containing lasagna, garlic breadstick, house salad and chocolate cake with icing. The garlic bread was dry and crunchy.
Then they found a hair baked into the chocolate cake.
The Regional Dietary Manager confirmed the hair at 11:40 AM and said, "I'll take care of it."
Residents had been complaining about food problems for months. Minutes from a July 22 Resident Council Meeting showed residents "voiced concerns for the temperature, the portion size and toughness of the food."
The facility failed to address these concerns, allowing dangerous food service practices to continue. Cold food presents serious health risks to elderly residents, particularly when temperatures hover in the bacterial growth zone for extended periods.
The inspection found these failures had "the potential to affect more than a limited number of residents," indicating widespread problems with the facility's food service operations. With 106 residents depending on the facility for proper nutrition and food safety, the violations represent a significant breakdown in basic care standards.
Mountain View Care Center's food service failures highlight how fundamental aspects of resident care can deteriorate when facilities don't maintain proper procedures. Residents like #86 shouldn't have to complain that their food is cold and difficult to chew, only to discover it's been sitting at dangerous temperatures for nearly an hour.
The facility's own policies acknowledged the temperature dangers, yet staff routinely served food that violated those standards. From Brussels sprouts barely warmer than refrigerator temperature to hair baked into desserts, the inspection revealed a food service operation that failed to meet basic safety and quality expectations.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Mountain View Care Center from 2025-10-16 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.