Kingston Care Center: Food Safety Violations - IN
All 107 residents at the facility ate food prepared in the contaminated kitchen area.
The gnats clustered on the wall opposite the dishwasher at 10:20 AM on November 19, according to the inspection report. Three food carts covered in dried liquids sat nearby, along with three additional carts holding leftover breakfast food waiting to be washed.
The Dietary Manager told inspectors one minute later that pest control had treated the gnats and "it had resolved." But the evidence suggested otherwise.
The manager acknowledged increased cleaning efforts and claimed carts were cleaned nightly, then admitted there was no documentation of nightly cart cleaning. Looking at the carts covered in dried residue, the manager conceded "the carts observed in the dining room had not been cleaned nightly based on appearance."
Pest control records revealed a pattern of kitchen contamination stretching back weeks. On October 31, exterminators observed fruit flies in the kitchen area. Two weeks later on November 13, they found drain flies in kitchen sinks, food debris over the dishwasher area, and noted the kitchen and dining room needed "improved sanitation."
The Maintenance Director confirmed pest control had treated the area for gnats the week before the inspection.
Administrator interviews on November 20 exposed the scope of the cleaning failures. The administrator admitted "the carts were not cleaned nightly as required" and acknowledged "the area should have been cleaned to maintain sanitation and prevent pests."
No documentation existed for regular cleaning of either the affected area or the food carts.
The facility's own policies contradicted the reality inspectors found. A current policy dated October 2024 required surfaces and floors to be cleaned regularly and when visibly soiled. Another policy from September 2019 specifically mandated that food carts be "cleaned and sanitized after each use and meal."
Neither policy was being followed.
The dining room corner where gnats congregated sat directly across from the dishwasher, placing the infestation at the center of the facility's food service operation. Breakfast leftovers waiting to be washed created additional sanitation hazards while residents throughout the building consumed meals prepared in the compromised environment.
Federal regulations require nursing homes to procure food from approved sources and maintain professional standards for storage, preparation, distribution and service. The gnat infestation and contaminated equipment violated those standards.
The inspection classified the violation as causing "minimal harm or potential for actual harm" to "some" residents, though all 107 residents consumed food prepared in the affected kitchen.
Pest control logs showed the facility had been battling flying insects in food preparation areas for nearly three weeks before the federal inspection. Despite professional treatment, the problems persisted due to inadequate cleaning practices.
The dried liquids coating the food carts suggested meals had been served from contaminated equipment for an extended period. The administrator's admission that nightly cleaning wasn't happening confirmed systemic sanitation failures beyond the visible gnat problem.
Kitchen staff continued preparing and serving meals to more than 100 residents while gnats flew freely through the dining area and food residue accumulated on service equipment. The facility's own policies required cleaning after each meal, making the dried buildup particularly concerning.
The investigation began with a complaint, though the inspection report doesn't specify what prompted the federal review. Inspectors found conditions that had clearly existed for days or weeks, suggesting the problems weren't isolated to the day of their visit.
Food safety violations in nursing homes can have serious consequences for vulnerable elderly residents with compromised immune systems. The combination of flying insects, unwashed equipment, and abandoned food creates multiple contamination risks in an environment where residents depend entirely on facility-prepared meals.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Kingston Health Center of Fort Wayne from 2025-11-20 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
Kingston Health Center of Fort Wayne in FORT WAYNE, IN was cited for violations during a health inspection on November 20, 2025.
All 107 residents at the facility ate food prepared in the contaminated kitchen area.
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.