ELKINS, WV. Food Service Manager #61 told inspectors it was acceptable to store disposable plates and cups directly on the kitchen floor because they were "in boxes and individually wrapped."
Federal inspectors found multiple food safety violations during a December 29 walkthrough at Nella's at Autumn Lake Healthcare, which serves 96 residents. The problems ranged from expired food items to improperly stored ingredients that could affect every person in the facility.
Two full sheet pans of turkey stock sat in the walk-in refrigerator with a December 19 preparation date but no use-by date. The food service manager acknowledged the stock "should have been thrown out this past weekend."
Inspectors discovered flour tortillas on a prep table with a use-by date of November 11 — nearly two months expired. The manager discarded them immediately.
An opened bag of breadcrumbs in dry storage wasn't sealed or labeled correctly. A bag of parmesan cheese lacked open and use-by dates. Sliced bologna sat in the refrigerator without any label or date, which the manager also threw away.
One steam table pan of gelatin dated December 20 had torn plastic covering and no use-by date. The manager admitted it should have been discarded by December 27.
Kitchen equipment showed signs of neglect. Two ovens contained debris and needed cleaning. An oven rack sat directly on the floor, which the manager said wasn't proper procedure. The can opener was soiled. A two-door refrigerator had debris and liquid spills.
Ice had built up in the walk-in freezer, and the mixer wasn't covered during non-use periods.
The food service manager told inspectors he didn't have an equipment cleaning schedule but was "working on one." When asked about the peanut butter jar without dates, he said they "normally" use it within three days.
The violations had potential to affect all residents at the facility through contaminated or spoiled food.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Nella's At Autumn Lake Healthcare from 2025-12-30 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.