F-Tag F813

§483.60(i) Food Safety Requirements

This F-Tag requires nursing facilities to maintain a written policy governing food brought in by residents' family members and visitors, covering safe storage, handling, and consumption. Facilities must ensure staff can assist residents in accessing visitor-provided food, store it separately from facility food, and educate family and visitors on safe food handling practices. Staff who assist with reheating or preparation must follow safe food handling protocols.

F813
(Rev. 173, Issued: 11-22-17, Effective: 11-28-17, Implementation: 11-28-17) 
 
§483.60(i) Food Safety Requirements 
The facility must – 
 
§483.60(i)(3) Have a policy regarding use and storage of foods brought to residents 
by family and other visitors to ensure safe and sanitary storage, handling, and 
consumption. 
 
GUIDANCE §483.60(i)(3) 
The facility must have a policy regarding food brought to residents by family and other 
visitors. The policy must also include ensuring facility staff assists the resident in 
accessing and consuming the food, if the resident is not able to do so on his or her own. 
The facility also is responsible for storing food brought in by family or visitors in a way 
that is either separate or easily distinguishable from facility food. 
 
The facility has a responsibility to help family and visitors understand safe food handling 
practices (such as safe cooling/reheating processes, hot/cold holding temperatures, 
preventing cross contamination, hand hygiene, etc.). If the facility is assisting family or 
visitors with reheating or other preparation activities, facility staff must use safe food 
handling practices. 
 
PROBES §483.60(i)(3) 
Interview family and/or visitors who bring food in to a resident to determine: 
• If he or she was provided the policy about the use and storage of foods brought in 
by family or visitors. 
• If the policy was provided in a language he or she could understand. 
• If safe food handling practices were explained to him or her. 
 
Interview facility staff to determine: 
• If they are aware of the facility policy addressing food brought in by residents, 
family, or visitors and how to apply it. 
• Who is responsible for sharing the facility policy with residents, families, and 
visitors? 
• How the facility ensures the resident, family, and/or visitors understand the 
policy. 
• If they are assisting with reheating, preparation, or storage of the food, if they 
understand safe food handling practices. 
 
POTENTIAL TAGS FOR ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION §483.60(i)(3) 
During the investigation of F813, the surveyor may have identified concerns with 
additional requirements related to outcome, process, and/or structure requirements. The 
surveyor is advised to investigate these related requirements before determining whether 
non-compliance may be present at these other tags. Examples of some of the related 

requirements that may be considered when non-compliance has been identified include, 
but are not limited to, the following: 
• §483.10(f), F561, Self-determination. 
o Determine if the facility allowed residents to choose to accept food from any 
friends, family, visitors, or other guests. 
• §483.10(g)(16), F581, Notice of Rights, Rules, and Services. 
o Determine if the policy is not provided orally and in writing and in a manner 
the resident can understand. 
• §483.60(i)(1)-(2), F812, Food safety requirements 
o Determine if concerns are identified with the safe storage, handling, or service 
of food.