A Huddersfield day care centre says it has taken action after a hygiene inspection uncovered unsafe working practices in a kitchen.
A kitchen inspection by a Kirklees Council environmental health officer discovered food past its ‘use by’ date in a fridge at Oxfield Court Day Centre in Dalton, Huddersfield. The charity-run premises were than given a one star food hygiene rating which means that ‘major improvement’ is needed. The centre provides nursing care for adults with learning disabilities and complex health needs.
During a visit on November 16, the inspector found double cream with a ‘use by’ date of November 14, grated cheese with a ‘best before’ date of October 19, and cheese with a ‘best before’ date of November 12.
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Margarine was also found with a ‘best before’ date of April 30, 2023, nearly six months. The report, released by Kirklees Council following a Freedom of Information request, says: “There were no systems in place to show when these items were opened and therefore nothing to show they were being used in line with manufacturers instructions.
“Food in the freezer was far past its use by date (both unopened and opened packets and homemade food).”
The inspector also found ‘open beef steak’ with ‘freezer burn’ and meat in the fridge that had “gone hard at the edges.”
Fridge temperature records indicated that fridges had been running above the legal temperature for at least three months, the report stated. There were “no records to show that any corrective action had been taken”.
It added: “Many items of high risk food were found to be above 8C, these included high risk food: cheese, yogurt, cream and sliced cooked meat.
“You must ensure high risk foods are kept under temperature control, ideally less than 5C as you cater for vulnerable people and definitely less than 8C. You must now monitor fridge temps closely to ensure the correct temperature is achieved. Until such time do not store high risk foods in these units and make alternative arrangements for their storage.”
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The inspector added: “You voluntarily threw away all the high risk items that were out of temperature control.”
The inspector revisited the day centre on November 23 and found the fridge temperatures were under control. They inspector discussed the need to chill hot food ‘asap ideally within 90 mins”.
The care facility was also told: “Don’t freeze foods that have reached the end of their shelf life.”
YorkshireLive asked the charity St Anne’s Community Services, which runs the day centre, to comment on the Kirklees’ hygiene report.
A spokesman said: “St Anne’s Community Services acknowledges the recent findings of a food hygiene report at Oxfield Court Day Centre.
“The service was initially visited on 17th November 23 in which several actions were highlighted by the inspector, these actions were immediately corrected as a matter of urgency by their return on 23 November.
“St Anne’s Community Services takes these matters seriously and is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all our clients. Oxfield Court Day Centre has always had the highest hygiene rating of five, a new kitchen is currently being fitted at the service which will be reassessed after the refit has been completed.”
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