San Antonio West Rehab: Food Safety Violations - TX
Federal inspectors documented multiple food safety violations at San Antonio West Nursing and Rehabilitation during an April inspection, finding systematic failures to follow basic hygiene protocols in the facility's kitchen operations.
The dietary manager told inspectors she had not observed anyone entering the kitchen with unsecured hair, but acknowledged the serious implications. A person without proper hair restraints "could have had some kind of communicable disease and therefore infection control would be a concern," she explained during the April 10 interview.
Staff also failed to label frozen food items properly. Inspectors discovered pork ribs in storage without identification tags showing preparation or expiration dates. The administrator explained that labels "allowed staff to ensure it was in a date range that ensured the food was safe for the facility to serve."
Temperature monitoring equipment was missing from critical food storage areas. The facility lacked an internal thermometer in at least one refrigerator, preventing staff from verifying that food remained at safe temperatures. The administrator told inspectors the missing thermometer meant "the facility captured the proper temperature of the food, allowing food temperatures to be monitored and stored appropriately" was impossible.
Walk-in freezer temperatures went unrecorded during morning checks, another violation that could allow food to spoil without detection. "The food might not have been stored at appropriate temperatures," the administrator acknowledged when asked about the oversight's potential impact.
The facility's own policies, revised in October 2017, require that "all foods stored in the refrigerator or freezer will be covered, labeled and dated." Staff must monitor "functioning of the refrigeration and food temperatures" at designated intervals throughout each day, according to the written procedures.
Additional policy violations involved visitor access to food preparation areas. The administrator expected facility guests to check in at the front desk and follow proper hand hygiene protocols when entering the kitchen, including wearing hair restraints. She warned that guests not following protocol could result in "hair and improper hygiene" that would "negatively affect the residents' food."
Federal food safety standards mandate that food service workers wear hair restraints "designed and worn to effectively keep their hair from contacting exposed food; clean equipment, utensils, and linens." The regulations specifically require hairnets when "cooking, preparing, or assembling food, such as stirring pots or assembling the ingredients of a salad."
The facility's 2026 food safety policy states that dietary staff must wear hair restraints to prevent contamination, and that all staff should "adhere to safe hygienic practices to prevent contamination of foods from hands or physical objects."
Temperature measuring devices must be "placed in a location that is representative of the actual storage temperature" to ensure all foods requiring temperature control remain at safe levels, according to FDA guidelines cited in the inspection report.
Food labeling requirements demand that packaged items include "the common name of the food" and "an accurate declaration of the net quantity of contents" to help staff track freshness and safety.
The violations represent what inspectors classified as "minimal harm or potential for actual harm" affecting "some" residents. However, the cumulative effect of multiple food safety breakdowns creates compounding risks for nursing home patients, who often have compromised immune systems that make them particularly vulnerable to foodborne illnesses.
Each violation individually might seem minor, but together they paint a picture of systemic food safety failures that could expose residents to preventable health risks through contaminated meals and improperly stored ingredients.
Full Inspection Report
The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for San Antonio West Nursing and Rehabilitation from 2026-04-10 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: August 5, 2026 · Our methodology
San Antonio West Nursing and Rehabilitation in San Antonio, TX was cited for violations during a health inspection on April 10, 2026.
The dietary manager told inspectors she had not observed anyone entering the kitchen with unsecured hair, but acknowledged the serious implications.
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.