CMS F-tag

F803: Nutrition & dietary

Menus must meet nutritional needs and be followed. Cited 2,965 times at 2,435 nursing homes in the last three inspection cycles.

#38 of 242 tags1% caused harm51 statesLatest survey Jan 9, 2026

How F803 shows up in inspections

#38 of 242 tagsOften cited

Rarely cited
Occasionally cited
Often cited
Very often cited
Among the most cited

How serious it usually is

Immediate jeopardyJ · K1%31
Actual harmG · H · I0.1%4
No actual harmD · E · F97.3%2,884
Minimal harmB · C1.6%46

1% of F803 citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy. Nationally, about 5% of all citations do.

By the numbers

2,965Citations
2,435Facilities cited17% of rated nursing homes

Citations by survey year

20171
201828
2019118
202044
2021140
2022395
2023729
2024883
2025626
20261

Partial years reflect the rolling three-cycle window, not a change in enforcement.

Where F803 is cited most

Survey agencies differ in what they emphasize, so compare a facility with its own state. Shares are the portion of each state’s rated nursing homes with at least one F803 citation.

States by share of facilities cited

California44% of homes653 citations · 505 of 1,154 facilities
Ohio26% of homes296 citations · 240 of 911 facilities
Illinois31% of homes277 citations · 205 of 665 facilities
Texas13% of homes175 citations · 155 of 1,167 facilities
Arkansas47% of homes143 citations · 103 of 218 facilities
Missouri23% of homes132 citations · 110 of 479 facilities
Pennsylvania14% of homes124 citations · 90 of 653 facilities
Iowa26% of homes120 citations · 99 of 388 facilities
Florida13% of homes106 citations · 89 of 689 facilities
Oklahoma18% of homes64 citations · 52 of 282 facilities

Top 10 of 51 states. Every state page lists its most-cited tags.

Facilities cited most often

Forest View Rehab & Nursing CenterItasca, IL · Report card5 F803No harm
Cedar Ridge CenterSissonville, WV · Report card4 F8031 with harm
Anaheim Healthcare Center, LLCAnaheim, CA · Report card4 F803No harm
Beaver Healthcare and Rehabilitation CenterAliquippa, PA · Report card4 F803No harm
California Post-Acute CareLynwood, CA · Report card4 F803No harm
Chandler Therapy & Living Center LLCChandler, OK · Report card4 F803No harm
Continental Nursing & Rehab CenterChicago, IL · Report card4 F803No harm
Gardens of Mayfield VillageMayfield Heights, OH · Report card4 F803No harm
Grandview Nursing and RehabilitationDanville, PA · Report card4 F803No harm
Orchards at TulareTulare, CA · Report card4 F803No harm
Pearl of Hinsdale, theHinsdale, IL · Report card4 F803No harm
Axiom Healthcare of Mount VernonMount Vernon, IL · Report card3 F8031 with harm
Alamitos West Health & RehabilitationLos Alamitos, CA · Report card3 F803No harm
Alexandria Care CenterLos Angeles, CA · Report card3 F803No harm
Alta Gardens Care CenterGarden Grove, CA · Report card3 F803No harm

What to ask a facility about a F803 citation

What exactly did the surveyor find, and on what date? The report card shows the date and the severity letter.
What was the plan of correction, and was it accepted by the state on the first submission?
Has the same tag been cited in more than one cycle? Repeat citations matter more than a single one.
If the letter was G or higher: what happened to the resident, and what changed in staffing or process?

Source: CMS Provider Data Catalog, Nursing Home Health Citations, current three inspection cycles, most recent survey Jan 9, 2026. Counts are citations unless labeled facilities.

What is F803 in a nursing home inspection?

F803 is the CMS F-tag for the requirement "Ensure menus must meet the nutritional needs of residents, be prepared in advance, be followed, be updated, be reviewed by dietician, and meet the needs of the resident." (Nutrition & dietary). Surveyors cite it when a facility is found out of compliance with that regulation during a standard survey or complaint investigation.

How common is F803?

F803 was cited 2,965 times at 2,435 facilities (17% of rated nursing homes) in the last three inspection cycles, ranking #38 of 242 tags. 35 of those citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy.

Does a F803 citation mean the facility is unsafe?

Not on its own. Read the scope and severity letter: D through F means no actual harm was found, G through I means a resident was harmed, and J through L means immediate jeopardy. Ask the facility what was cited, what was corrected, and when.

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