Eight residents told inspectors during interviews that meals at the East Texas facility were unpalatable, with complaints ranging from temperature problems to overseasoning. The inspection, completed October 29, documented violations of federal food service standards.
"The food was very cold and very salty at times," Resident 11 told inspectors at 9:46 AM on the first day of the visit.
Other residents were equally direct in their assessments. Resident 3 said "the food was bad." Resident 4 called it "not that good." Resident 6 said meals were "not good." A family member visiting Resident 15 told inspectors "the food here was not very good."
The administrator confirmed to inspectors at 9:30 AM on October 27 that the dietary manager "had called in this morning and gave her notice to quit and he currently did not have a dietary manager."
Inspectors tested the kitchen's output the following day during the noon meal service. At 12:00 PM, a test tray left the kitchen after the dining room had been served. The registered dietitian hand-delivered it to inspectors' work room at 12:10 PM.
The meal consisted of spaghetti with thick noodles, tossed green salad, and a garlic breadstick. No dessert appeared on the tray. No drinks were provided.
Inspectors found the spaghetti was cool and "seasoned ok." The tossed salad was also cool. The garlic breadstick was hard.
A second test tray arrived at 12:30 PM after the last hall trays had been served to residents. This time, inspectors found the spaghetti was cold rather than merely cool. The salad remained cool. The garlic breadstick was "hard difficult to chew." A cup of diced peaches with whipped cream on top was cool. Again, no drinks accompanied the meal.
The registered dietitian present during the tasting agreed with inspectors' findings, confirming the spaghetti was not hot, the breadstick was hard and difficult to bite, and no dessert or drink had been provided with the first tray.
Residents eating the same meal voiced similar complaints during interviews conducted around lunchtime on October 28.
"It's food, but it's not good," Resident 11 told inspectors at 11:35 AM. "I may eat a little of it."
Resident 3 said at 11:36 AM: "It may look good, but it never tastes good. It is always too spicy."
Resident 14 told inspectors at 11:49 AM he was "going to eat some of the meat" but "didn't want the rest of it" and "wished they would improve on the food."
After the meal, complaints continued. Resident 1 said at 1:05 PM that "her lunch food was cold and very salty." Resident 19 told inspectors at 1:20 PM: "It probably would have been good if it were not cold and they don't give me enough."
Resident 6 summarized the broader problem at 1:25 PM, saying the food was "just ok" and "not like home cooked food." She added that she "always has to wait on her tea, and it is never hot."
The administrator acknowledged to inspectors that the violations could put residents "at risk for weight loss, and multiple dietary issues." He stated that each resident should receive "a nourishing, palatable, well-balanced diet" served "at a safe and appetizing temperature."
Federal regulations require nursing homes to ensure food is palatable, attractive, and served at safe temperatures. The inspection found AVIR at Lindale failed to meet these standards during the October 28 noon meal, placing residents at risk for "diminished meal satisfaction and potential weight loss due to poor meal intake."
The facility's own policy, revised in November 2022, requires food service employees to "prepare, distribute and serve food in a manner that complies with safe food handling practices" and ensure food "appears palatable and attractive."
Yet residents continued receiving meals that failed basic palatability standards, with some saying they would eat only small portions of what was served.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Avir At Lindale from 2025-10-29 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.