The Willows at Howell

In the surveyor’s words

From the most serious findings on record at The Willows at Howell, in the surveyor’s own words.

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, widespreadF812Mar 31, 2026

  Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to maintain best practices in the food service area resulting in the potential to spread food borne illness to all residents that consume food from the kitchen. Findings Include:On 03/30/2026 at 8:47 AM observed raw pork stored in a pan on the top shelf of the rack, positioned above pre sliced packaged meats in the walk-in cooler. Director of Food (DOF) G indicated they were unaware why it was stored there.On 03/30/2026 at 8:49 AM observed a pan of raw chicken on the bottom shelf of a rack in the walk-in cooler. Stacked metal pans were beside the raw chicken with a facility label indicating raw chicken. When the lid was removed cooked chicken was observed inside the stacked pans. […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, widespreadF812Jan 22, 2025

  Based on observation, interview and record review the facility failed to appropriately store and label food items in the kitchen and a reach-in refrigerator. This deficient practice had the potential to affect all residents that consume food in the facility out of a total census of 55. Findings include: On 01/21/25 at approximately 8:53 a.m., a tour of the facility kitchen was conducted with kitchen manager A (KM A) and the following was observed: 1. A tray of uncovered/unprotected apple cinnamon deserts was observed in the walk-in refrigerator with a preparation date of 1/16/25 and use by date of of 1/19/25. 2. A tray of uncovered/unprotected and dried out meat patties was observed in the walk-in refrigerator. 3. […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, widespreadF812Mar 20, 2024

  Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to maintain sanitary equipment, maintain equipment and plumbing in good repair, and properly date mark potentially hazardous foods, resulting in the potential for increased risk of foodborne illness, affecting all residents in the facility. Findings include: On 3/18/24 at 9:12 AM, during an inspection of the kitchen, food debris was observed to be accumulating in the utensil drawer across from the cookline. At this time, Director of Food Service (DFS) N instructed a staff member to clean the utensil drawer. According to the 2017 FDA Food Code Section 4-601.11 Equipment, Food-Contact Surfaces, Nonfood Contact Surfaces, and Utensils. (A) EQUIPMENT FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES and UTENSILS shall be clean to sight and touch. […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, widespreadF812Feb 28, 2023

  Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to discard expired potentially hazardous food, maintain equipment, and properly cool potentially hazardous foods, resulting in the potential for biological contamination of food product, affecting all residents who consume food from the kitchen. Findings include: An initial tour of the main kitchen, starting at 8:50 AM on [DATE], was completed with staff member A. During the tour, an observation of walk-in cooler revealed a tray with multiple containers labeled as salad bar items with an expiration date of [DATE], a cheese tray with an expiration date of [DATE], lettuce with an expiration of [DATE], fifteen small containers of salad with an expiration date of [DATE], and a tub of marinara sauce with expiration date of… […]

• No harm, potential for more than minimal, widespreadF812Dec 2, 2021

  Based on observation, interview, and record review, the facility failed to properly date mark potentially hazardous foods and maintain sanitary food contact surfaces, resulting in the potential spread and harborage of foodborne pathogens, affecting all residents who consume food from the kitchen. Findings include: On 11/30/21 at 9:25 AM, during an inspection of the kitchen with Director of Food Services (DFS) P, thousand island dressing, located in the preparation cooler across from the cookline, was observed to be date marked 11/29 to 12/29. At this time, DFS P stated that the dressing was house-made in the kitchen and that, It is the wrong ticket, referring to the date sticker. […]