FoodNet survey of food use and practices in long-term care facilities.
Foodborne illness is an important problem among the elderly. One risk factor for foodborne illness and diarrhea-associated mortality among the elderly is residence in a long-term care facility (LTCF); thus, these facilities must implement measures to ensure safe food. To assess safe food practices, knowledge, and policies, we used a mailed, self-administered questionnaire to survey food service directors at LTCFs that were certified to receive Medicare or Medicaid at eight Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) sites. Surveys were distributed to 1,630 LTCFs; 55% (865 of 1,568) of eligible facilities returned a completed questionnaire. Only three LTCFs completely followed national recommendations for prevention of Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Nine percent of LTCFs reported serving soft cheeses made from unpasteurized milk. Most LTCFs reported routinely serving ready-to-eat deli meats; however, few reported always heating deli meats until steaming hot before serving (only 19% of the LTCFs that served roast beef, 13% of those that served turkey, and 11% of those that served ham). Most LTCFs (92%) used pasteurized liquid egg products, but only 36% used pasteurized whole shell eggs. Regular whole shell eggs were used by 62% of facilities. Few LTCFs used irradiated ground beef (7%) or irradiated poultry products (6%). The results of this survey allowed us to identify several opportunities for prevention of foodborne illnesses in LTCFs. Some safety measures, such as the use of pasteurized and irradiated foods, were underutilized, and many facilities were not adhering to national recommendations on the avoidance of certain foods considered high risk for elderly persons. Enhanced educational efforts focusing on food safety practices and aimed at LTCFs are needed.
Nelson
Jennifer M
JM
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA.
Bednarczyk
Robert
R
Nadle
Joelle
J
Clogher
Paula
P
Gillespie
Jennifer
J
Daniels
Allison
A
Plantenga
Melissa
M
Ingram
Amanda
A
Edge
Karen
K
Furuno
Jon P
JP
Scallan
Elaine
E
D000368:Aged; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D003625:Data Collection; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods*; D005514:Food Irradiation; D005521:Food Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D009735:Nursing Homes; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States