Episcopal Church Home: Expired Food Storage Failures - MN
Federal inspectors found food storage violations on every floor of the University Avenue facility during their April 7-9 visit. The problems affected all residents in the 245-bed nursing home.
On the second floor, nursing assistant NA-H acknowledged that opened packages of bacon, pancakes, waffles, hot dog buns, and a container of red and white substance should have been sealed, dated, and labeled. None were.
The third floor freezer contained similar violations. Nursing assistant NA-G confirmed that undated packages of french toast, waffles, pepperoni, english muffins, omelets, and bacon all violated facility policy requiring proper labeling and sealing.
The fourth floor presented the most extensive problems. Inspectors discovered undated packages of omelets, pancakes, french toast, corn dogs, bacon, sausages, Toaster Strudel, and White Castle burgers in the freezer. The refrigerator held an undated bowl of noodles, an undated Tupperware container of beans, and the bag of carrots that had expired on March 25 — nearly two weeks before the inspection.
Nursing assistant NA-F acknowledged these items violated storage requirements.
The pattern continued on floors five through seven. The fifth floor freezer contained undated packages of french toast, waffles, bacon, and omelets. The sixth floor had undated bacon, french toast, bagels, and meat patties. The seventh floor freezer held undated bacon, pancakes, waffles, and french toast.
Each nursing assistant interviewed — NA-A, NA-E, and NA-D — confirmed that all the items should have been properly sealed, dated, and labeled according to facility policy.
Chef manager interviewed on April 8 said the kitchenettes contained Ziplock bags, markers, and deli containers with lids specifically for proper food storage. The chef manager expected all opened food items to be sealed, dated, and labeled, and said a multidisciplinary team oversaw the kitchenettes.
The chef manager provided education, ordered supplies, stocked kitchenettes, and created stocking sheets for staff. The nursing department supervised the nursing assistants responsible for food handling.
The administrator told inspectors on April 9 that all staff were expected to handle and store food properly, with all opened items labeled, dated, and sealed. The administrator acknowledged that proper food storage reduced the risk of foodborne illness.
Facility policy titled "Episcopal Homes Refrigerator and Food Storage" specifically directed staff to seal opened freezer foods to prevent freezer burn and spoilage. The policy required all foods to be sealed, labeled, and dated.
Despite having the necessary supplies and clear policies, staff across all six floors failed to follow basic food safety protocols. The violations created potential for foodborne illness among the facility's vulnerable elderly residents.
The inspection found that nursing assistants on every floor understood the requirements but were not following them. Each acknowledged that the unlabeled, unsealed, and in some cases expired items they were storing violated facility expectations.
The facility's own policy recognized the importance of proper food storage in preventing spoilage, freezer burn, and foodborne illness. Yet inspectors found systematic failures across the entire building, from mystery substances in unlabeled containers to carrots weeks past their expiration date sitting in resident-accessible refrigerators.
The widespread nature of the violations — affecting every kitchenette in the facility — suggested systemic problems with oversight and enforcement of basic food safety protocols that could impact the health of all residents receiving care at Episcopal Church Home The Gardens.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Episcopal Church Home the Gardens from 2026-04-09 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.
Additional Resources
- View all inspection reports for Episcopal Church Home the Gardens
- Browse all MN nursing home inspections
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 13, 2026 · Our methodology
EPISCOPAL CHURCH HOME THE GARDENS in SAINT PAUL, MN was cited for violations during a health inspection on April 9, 2026.
Federal inspectors found food storage violations on every floor of the University Avenue facility during their April 7-9 visit.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happened at EPISCOPAL CHURCH HOME THE GARDENS?
- Federal inspectors found food storage violations on every floor of the University Avenue facility during their April 7-9 visit.
- How serious are these violations?
- Violation severity varies from minor documentation issues to serious safety concerns. Review the inspection report for specific deficiency codes and scope. All violations must be corrected within required timeframes and are subject to follow-up verification inspections.
- What should families do?
- Families should: (1) Ask facility administration about specific corrective actions taken, (2) Request to see the follow-up inspection report verifying corrections, (3) Check if this represents a pattern by reviewing prior inspection reports, (4) Compare this facility's ratings with other nursing homes in SAINT PAUL, MN, (5) Report any new concerns directly to state authorities.
- Where can I see the full inspection report?
- The complete inspection report is available on Medicare.gov's Care Compare website (www.medicare.gov/care-compare). You can also request a copy directly from EPISCOPAL CHURCH HOME THE GARDENS or from the state Department of Health. The report includes specific deficiency codes, facility responses, and correction timelines. This facility's federal provider number is 245625.
- Has this facility had violations before?
- To check EPISCOPAL CHURCH HOME THE GARDENS's history, visit Medicare.gov's Care Compare and review their inspection history, quality ratings, and staffing levels. Look for patterns of repeated violations, especially in critical areas like abuse prevention, medication management, infection control, and resident safety.