| Food For Thought |
ServSafe 5th Edition 9-6 states: "Use ice scoops or tongs to get ice...  ...Ice scoops should always be stored in a sanitary location - not the bin".  email or call me at the office 916-364-5300.
Janet Montano, RD Director of Menu Services |
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| Contact the Editor |  Please send your RDNews comments, suggestions & questions to Judy Morgan, MBA, RD |
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Greetings!
Summer is here and with it a potential for an increase in ice usage and the need for an ice machine check up. Thank you Jennifer for this timely and informative article. |
Ice Machine Cleaning and Sanitation |
REPORT FROM JENNIFER HIRSCH, RDJennifer reports that the Corporate RD at one of her facilities was performing his monthly sanitation inspection. He actually had the maintenance staff take off the plates/filters of the ice machine and demonstrate what they do to clean: the end result turned out that the Maintenance Supervisor had not been doing this every month.  Instead, he was wiping down the outside area/cleaning the ice bin monthly and signing off. As you can imagine, the ice machine filter/ice making area was not the cleanest! Staff were in-serviced by the Corporate RD and a cleaning schedule was implemented per manufacturer's recommendations. Jennifer states "I would encourage all RD's to take the time to ask the maintenance staff about the procedures they use and verify that they are actually following the manufacturer's recommendations and not just doing an easy clean up job. After all, a dirty ice machine is a potential IJ area!" |
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RD Tip | |
Ice Machine Cleaning and Sanitation
 Refer to HMC Policy and Procedure manual, #670 Production, Storage and Dispensing of Ice. Review the surveyor guidance at the top of the page regarding contamination risks "....including unclean equipment, including the internal components of ice machines that are not drained, cleaned, and sanitized as needed and according to manufacturer's specifications (CMS F371, September 2008).
- Refer to HMC Policy and Procedure manual, Operating and Cleaning Dietary Equipment section, Cleaning Ice Machine Scoop and Ice Chests, page 426.
- Check cleanliness of the ice machine(s) each month when you complete your report card.
- Review the cleaning log for the ice machine and determine if the cleaning/sanitizing has been completed timely.
- If Maintenance keeps the cleaning logs, ask that copies be given to the Dietary Manager for her files.
- Recommend to the Dietary Manager and Maintenance Supervisor that the logs and manufacturer's cleaning/sanitizing instructions be posted on or near the ice machine.
- Interview the maintenance staff or personnel assigned the ice machine cleaning.
- Ask to see the cleaning and sanitizing products that are used on the machine and check against the manufacturer's specifications for recommended solutions.
- If the cleaning/sanitizing products used differ from the manufacturer's specifications, have the Maintenance Supervisor contact the manufacturer and ask for a written document indicating the products he uses are equivalent.
- Ask to be notified the next time the machine is to be cleaned/sanitized and ask to observe.
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| Dear Dietitian |
The ice machine has been an issue in many surveys and has resulted in "IJ" throughout the state over the past couple of years since the revision of the guidance to surveyors for F371 in 2008. Thank you to Jennifer for bringing this issue up again as a reminder for all of us. Thanks for your efforts in protecting our residents from food borne illness. Your diligence and attention to detail make a difference!
Sincerely,
Judy Morgan, MBA, RD
HM Composite |
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