From dirty walls and clogged sinks to food stored at the wrong temperature, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center’s Farr Cafeteria has had to address several health and safety concerns recently.
As part of a routine health inspection visit in December, health inspectors noted that the cafeteria, which offers a variety of food on the hospital’s west campus, had a salad bar that was kept at temperatures too warm and chicken and steak being stored at temperatures slightly too cold for safety standards.
Other issues included worn and discolored cutting boards, “heavy built-up soils on all cooking equipment throughout,” dust on shelving and food particles and sticky labels in a clogged hand sink.
Hand washing practices were also flagged in the inspection.
“Observed multiple employees leaving and returning to work/prep stations and not washing hands,” the report states. “Observed multiple food handlers leaving and returning to work stations/touching multiple touch points that are soiled wearing disposable single use gloves.”
But all the issues were quickly addressed, a spokesperson for Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) said.
“Our facilities undergo audits from the City of Boston to ensure compliance with food safety and public health standards. These audits are designed to identify potential issues, and we have always immediately corrected any concerns that may be raised. We take food safety seriously, require our staff to undergo regular trainings, and continually review our processes on food safety and cleanliness to ensure we provide the best food service possible,” Katie Brace, spokesperson for BIDMC, said in a statement.
A spokesperson from Sodexo, which manages Farr Cafeteria, also said the company “immediately addressed issues identified as part of our most recent audit and resolved these items for reinspection, with no violations found during that time.”
“The health, safety and wellness of our patients, staff, and guests is our top priority, and we are diligent in our commitment to maintain the highest standards of safety and cleanliness in our food operations at BIDMC,” the statement continued.
Beyond the city’s inspections, Sodexo also has third-party audits and reviews from the medical center’s Joint Commission survey, “which we routinely pass.” These audits are often unannounced and are compared against national standards for safe, high-quality care for an accreditation.
“Accreditation is one way we show our commitment to you and your family. It helps ensure we are always working to provide safe, effective, and respectful care,” BIDMC’s website states.