St Mary Healthcare Center: Kitchen Safety Violations - IN
That was the first thing they found. It was not the last.
The inspection, conducted March 24, 2026, at 9:36 a.m., with the Dietary Manager present, turned up three separate problems in the kitchen that serves all 65 residents of the facility at 2201 Cason St. Two unopened cans of energy drinks and a white cup with a lid and straw had been left on the food preparation counter by staff. Nine minutes after inspectors made the observation, the Dietary Manager told them the drinks belonged to staff and that staff were not supposed to store personal food or drinks in the food preparation area.
The drinks were against the rules. The Dietary Manager knew it. They were there anyway.
In the walk-in freezer, inspectors found a large opened plastic bag containing a single skinless chicken breast. Ice had built up on the upper left corner of the meat. On the same shelf sat a cardboard box of skinless chicken breasts, the plastic bag inside left untied and the cardboard lid left wide open, exposing the chicken to the freezer air.
The Dietary Manager, speaking with inspectors at 10:19 a.m., acknowledged the single chicken breast package was open and had ice forming on the edges. The box of chicken, they said, should have been tied and not left open to air.
A staff member identified in the report as Dietary Staff 5 told inspectors the next day that staff should never leave personal drinks or food in the kitchen. The facility's own Culinary Services policy, last reviewed July 10, 2025, states that food and supplies shall be properly stored to keep foods safe, and that all foods in the freezer must be wrapped in moisture-proof wrapping or placed in suitable containers to prevent freezer burn, then labeled and dated.
The chicken was not wrapped. It was not sealed. It was sitting open in a box with the lid up.
CMS rated the harm level as minimal, with potential for actual harm. The deficiency was cited under Indiana Administrative Code 410 IAC 3.1-21(i)(3), which governs food service standards. Because all 65 residents receive food from this kitchen, inspectors noted the deficient practice had the potential to affect every one of them.
Improperly stored raw chicken presents contamination risks. Ice buildup on exposed meat is a sign of freezer burn, which occurs when moisture escapes from food that has not been adequately sealed. Personal beverages on food preparation surfaces introduce the possibility of spills and cross-contamination in an area where food for vulnerable residents is handled daily.
The violations here are not complicated. Staff knew they were not supposed to leave drinks in the kitchen. The Dietary Manager confirmed it on the spot. The policy existed in writing and had been reviewed less than nine months before inspectors arrived. None of that stopped two energy drink cans and a travel cup from ending up next to the peanut butter, or a box of chicken from sitting open in a freezer with the lid wide open.
For the 65 residents who eat every meal prepared in that kitchen, the gap between what the policy says and what inspectors found on a routine Tuesday morning is the whole of the problem.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for St Mary Healthcare Center from 2026-03-31 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
ST MARY HEALTHCARE CENTER in LAFAYETTE, IN was cited for violations during a health inspection on March 31, 2026.
That was the first thing they found.
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.