Rule 111-8-62-.21 - Nutrition(1) A minimum of three regularly scheduled, well-balanced, meals must be provided seven days a week. There must be no more than 14 hours elapsing between the scheduled evening and morning meals. Meals must meet the general requirements for nutrition currently found in the Recommended Daily Diet Allowances, Food and Nutrition Board, National Academy of Sciences Meals must be of sufficient quantity, proper form, consistency and temperature. Food for at least one nutritious snack shall be available and offered each mid-afternoon and evening.(2) Food received or used in a personal care home must be from satisfactory sources and must be clean, wholesome, free from spoilage, adulteration, and misbranding, and safe for human consumption.(3) Properly Furnished Food Areas. A home must have a properly equipped kitchen with appropriate cabinets, drawers, holders and shelves or racks for storage of necessary equipment and utensils to prepare meals safely unless the home has arranged for meals to be obtained from a permitted food service establishment. The kitchen must be kept clean and disinfected at least daily unless more frequent sanitization is required to prevent the spread of infection or food borne illnesses.(4) Handling of Food. All foods while being stored, prepared and served must be protected from spoilage and contamination and be safe for human consumption. The home must ensure that staff does the following: (a) Store perishable foods properly, such as but not limited to meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, juices at temperatures that will minimize spoilage, i.e. at or below 41 degrees F.(b) Thaw frozen foods properly, i.e. in the refrigerator or under cold running water with an unplugged sink.(c) Provide hot and cold running water and sanitizing agents and ensure that they are used appropriately in the kitchen to clean and sanitize food, hands and utensils as required for safe food preparation.(d) Prevent cross-contamination of foods via hands, cutting boards or utensils during preparation.(e) Ensure that hot foods leave the kitchen (e.g. pot, steam table) for serving at or above 140 degrees F. and that cold foods leave the kitchen for serving at or below 41 degrees F.(5) A home serving 25 or more residents must possess a valid food service permit issued through the authority of the Department of Public Health or a copy of the valid food service permit of the caterer who provides meals to the residents.(6) Catered Food Service. When the a home uses a catered food service (food service establishment), the home must ensure that the service is properly licensed, provides meals in accordance with these rules, has a satisfactory record of compliance with food safety requirements and properly transports and stores food at time of delivery to maintain food safety.(7) A home must maintain a three day supply of non-perishable food and water for emergency needs. The quantity of food required to be stored must be based on the usual resident census. The food must be kept in sealed containers which are labeled and dated. The food must be rotated in accordance with shelf life to ensure safety and palatability. Water sufficient for drinking and food preparation must also be stored.(8) Menus must be written and posted 24 hours prior to serving the meal. Any change or substitution must be noted and considered as a part of the original menu. Alternatives to the food offered on the menu must be available to accommodate individual resident preferences.(9) Homes must maintain records of all menus as served for 30 days after use.(10) The person designated by the home as being responsible for managing the preparation of meals for the residents must enforce safe food handling practices which address basic food safety, hygiene, cross contamination, time and temperature requirements and sanitation with staff and residents.(11) A home must arrange for special therapeutic diets as prescribed by the resident's physician, advance practice registered nurse of physicians assistant.Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 111-8-62-.21
O.C.G.A. Secs. 31-2-7, 31-2-9, 31-7-1, 31-7-2.1, 31-7-12, 31-12-3.
Original Rule entitled "Medications" adopted. F. Nov. 19, 2009; eff. Dec. 9, 2009.Amended: New Title "Nutrition". F. Dec. 19, 2012; eff. Jan. 8, 2013.