Federal inspectors found the violations during a December 29 kitchen walkthrough at the 96-bed facility. Food Service Manager #61 acknowledged multiple food safety failures but defended some practices that violated professional standards.
Two full sheet pans of turkey stock bore a December 19 preparation date with no expiration marking. The manager told inspectors the stock "should have been thrown out this past weekend" but remained in the walk-in refrigerator.
Flour tortillas with a November 11 use-by date sat on a prep table more than six weeks past expiration. The manager discarded them when inspectors pointed out the violation.
Multiple cases of disposable plates, cups and utensils sat directly on the kitchen floor. When asked if this practice was acceptable, the manager said yes because the items were boxed and individually wrapped.
A bag of opened breadcrumbs lacked proper sealing, labeling and dating. Opened parmesan cheese had no use-by date despite facility policy requiring such markings. A steam table pan of gelatin from December 20 had torn plastic covering and no expiration date.
The manager acknowledged the gelatin should have been discarded by December 27.
Equipment maintenance problems compounded the food safety issues. Ice buildup covered the walk-in freezer. A two-door refrigerator contained debris and liquid spills. Two ovens showed interior soiling that required cleaning, and one oven rack sat directly on the floor.
The manager admitted having no equipment cleaning schedule but said he was "working on one." A soiled can opener remained dirty the following morning.
Unlabeled bologna in a sandwich bag was discarded during the inspection. An open peanut butter jar lacked dating, though the manager claimed staff typically consumed such items within three days.
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.