State inspectors found the facility's dietary department supervisor relied on informal text messages to communicate food handling procedures rather than conducting regular training sessions on temperature monitoring, labeling protocols, and sanitation requirements.
"The staff do not get trainings but get a text reminder," the dietary department supervisor told inspectors during a December 30 interview. "She stated the staff get sent a group text because they know what is to be done."
The supervisor could not specify how often these text reminders were sent or what information they contained.
Meanwhile, kitchen staff member KS C had been working with an expired food handler certificate for an entire month. The worker's certification, issued November 30, 2023, expired on November 30, 2025, according to inspection records.
The administrator acknowledged KS C was out of the country and said the dietary supervisor claimed the employee had retested for current certification. But the facility could not produce documentation proving valid credentials.
Texas law requires food service employees to complete accredited food handler training within 30 days of employment. The training covers food safety fundamentals including hygiene practices and cross-contamination prevention.
The facility's registered dietitian nutritionist had identified temperature control problems in November and expected the dietary supervisor to provide ongoing staff education. During a December 31 interview, she revealed telling the supervisor about her concerns and being assured that training was being provided.
"She stated she felt the kitchen staff needed training and had been told by the DDS that the DDS was providing training," inspection records show.
The registered nurse consultant expressed disbelief when administrators could not locate any food service training documentation from the previous three months.
"She could not believe that there was not any documentation of food service staff trainings within the requested timeframe," according to the inspection report.
The administrator admitted he could not find training records covering the period from September 29 through December 29, 2025. He explained the facility had changed contracted food service companies approximately two months earlier and knew the previous company had provided training.
None of the ten kitchen workers reviewed during the inspection had current training documentation. The group included Cook D and nine kitchen staff members identified as KS C through KS O.
Inspectors found the facility's written policies offered no guidance on training requirements. The food preparation and service policy, last revised in November 2022, contained no mention of staff training expectations or qualifications. The sanitation policy, also updated in November 2022, similarly lacked training specifications.
The dietary supervisor was unavailable during the December 31 inspection, leaving administrators unable to provide additional documentation or explanations for the training gaps.
Federal regulations require nursing homes to employ sufficient staff with appropriate competencies to carry out food service functions. This includes ensuring workers maintain their skills through regular education that considers resident assessments, care plans, and the facility's population characteristics.
The inspection classified the violations as having minimal harm or potential for actual harm, affecting some residents. However, inspectors noted the failures could place residents at risk of unmet nutritional needs and foodborne illnesses.
The facility serves residents who depend entirely on staff-prepared meals and have varying dietary restrictions based on medical conditions. Proper food handling training helps prevent contamination that could cause serious illness in elderly populations with compromised immune systems.
Kitchen staff responsibilities include monitoring food temperatures at multiple stages of preparation and service, properly labeling stored items with dates and contents, and following sanitation procedures when using thermometers and other equipment.
Without documented training, the facility cannot demonstrate that workers understand critical food safety principles or know how to respond when temperature logs indicate potential problems.
The inspection occurred as part of a complaint investigation on December 31, 2025. Inspectors reviewed personnel records, training documentation, and facility policies while interviewing key staff members about dietary department operations.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Avir At New Braunfels from 2025-12-31 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.