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Laurel Square Healthcare: Spoiled Food Found in Kitchen - PA

Healthcare Facility
Laurel Square Healthcare And Rehabilitation Center
Philadelphia, PA  ·  2/5 stars

The produce refrigerator held shredded cabbage dated September 3, two cases of zucchini from the same date showing green and black discoloration, and cantaloupe also dated September 3 that had gone soft. A separate case labeled August 20 contained celery and cabbage, the celery visibly spoiled. The facility's own food storage guidelines specify that produce may be kept for up to seven days.

The August 20 case had been sitting there for more than a month.

The temperature log affixed to the outside of the produce refrigerator showed no recorded reading for the night of September 22, the night before inspectors arrived.

The Dietary Director confirmed to inspectors that the produce in question was dated approximately three weeks prior and was spoiled. He said he could not explain why it had remained in the refrigerator.

The Regional Director told inspectors that additional produce had been received and stored in a walk-in refrigerator since September 3. He said the spoiled items had not been used in any meal preparation. He also said he could not explain why they were still there.

The facility's own food quality policy, dated February 2023, states that food must be palatable, visually appealing, and served at a safe and appetizing temperature. Its dietary operations incorporate HACCP guidelines requiring staff to follow time and temperature controls. Neither the Dietary Director nor the Regional Director offered an account of how produce more than a month past its discard date went unnoticed through what would have been weeks of daily kitchen operations.

CMS rated the violation at minimal harm or potential for actual harm, with many residents affected.

Full Inspection Report

The details above represent a summary of key findings. View the complete inspection report for Laurel Square Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center from 2025-09-23 including all violations, facility responses, and corrective action plans.

Download the official CMS inspection PDF from Medicare.gov

Additional Resources

Editorial Standards & Data Disclosure

Data source: This article is based on inspection data downloaded directly from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) via Medicare.gov. CMS releases inspection reports in bulk; we publish the findings as documented by state surveyors in the official Form CMS-2567 Statement of Deficiencies.

Plan of correction: The CMS report we receive does not include the facility's plan of correction. Facilities submit plans of correction separately to state survey agencies and those responses may not be reflected in CMS data at the time of publication. The absence of a plan of correction in our data does not mean one was not filed. Readers who want information about corrective steps taken are encouraged to contact the facility directly or their state survey agency.

Corrections may have occurred: Inspection reports reflect conditions observed on the date of the survey. Facilities may have implemented corrections, staffing changes, additional training, or other remediation since the report was issued. We report what CMS provides and encourage readers to seek current information from the facility.

Editorial process: Inspection findings are extracted from CMS source documents and synthesized using AI, reviewed for factual accuracy against the original report by our editorial team.

Professional review: All content reviewed by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., NH EMT & BU-trained Paralegal.

Last verified: September 23, 2026  ·  Our methodology

Quick Answer

LAUREL SQUARE HEALTHCARE AND REHABILITATION CENTER in PHILADELPHIA, PA was cited for violations during a health inspection on September 23, 2025.

A separate case labeled August 20 contained celery and cabbage, the celery visibly spoiled.

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 LAUREL SQUARE HEALTHCARE AND REHABILITATION CENTER?
A separate case labeled August 20 contained celery and cabbage, the celery visibly spoiled.
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 PHILADELPHIA, PA, (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 LAUREL SQUARE HEALTHCARE AND REHABILITATION CENTER 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 395535.
Has this facility had violations before?
To check LAUREL SQUARE HEALTHCARE AND REHABILITATION CENTER'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.