CMS F-tag

F804: Nutrition & dietary

Food must be palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature. Cited 3,920 times at 3,062 nursing homes in the last three inspection cycles.

#29 of 242 tags0% caused harm53 statesLatest survey Jan 16, 2026

How F804 shows up in inspections

#29 of 242 tagsOften cited

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

How serious it usually is

Immediate jeopardyJ–L0%0
Actual harmG · H0.1%5
No actual harmD · E · F99.1%3,883
Minimal harmB · C0.8%32

0% of F804 citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy. Nationally, about 5% of all citations do.

By the numbers

3,920Citations
3,062Facilities cited21% of rated nursing homes

Citations by survey year

20172
201834
2019145
202053
2021170
2022455
2023966
20241,170
2025920
20265

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

Where F804 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 F804 citation.

States by share of facilities cited

California32% of homes470 citations · 371 of 1,154 facilities
Ohio25% of homes309 citations · 229 of 911 facilities
Texas19% of homes281 citations · 225 of 1,167 facilities
Pennsylvania26% of homes266 citations · 172 of 653 facilities
Missouri35% of homes245 citations · 166 of 479 facilities
Illinois23% of homes213 citations · 155 of 665 facilities
New York21% of homes172 citations · 122 of 593 facilities
Michigan27% of homes144 citations · 112 of 420 facilities
Indiana22% of homes132 citations · 109 of 504 facilities
Iowa23% of homes111 citations · 90 of 388 facilities

Top 10 of 53 states. Every state page lists its most-cited tags.

Facilities cited most often

Grandview Nursing and RehabilitationDanville, PA · Report card6 F804No harm
St Peters Rehab and Healthcare CenterSaint Peters, MO · Report card6 F804No harm
Aventura at Terrace ViewPeckville, PA · Report card5 F804No harm
Beeghly Oaks Center for Rehabilitation & HealingYoungstown, OH · Report card5 F804No harm
Bria of BellevilleBelleville, IL · Report card5 F804No harm
Carmel Hills Wellness & RehabilitationIndependence, MO · Report card5 F804No harm
The Terrace at Crystal LLCCrystal, MN · Report card5 F804No harm
Yorkview Nursing and RehabilitationYork, PA · Report card5 F804No harm
Pearl of Elk Grove, theElk Grove Village, IL · Report card4 F8041 with harm
Ashland Nursing and RehabilitationAshland, VA · Report card4 F804No harm
Avenir at Maple GroveLouisiana, MO · Report card4 F804No harm
Chandler Therapy & Living Center LLCChandler, OK · Report card4 F804No harm
Continuing Healthcare of Cuyahoga FallsCuyahoga Falls, OH · Report card4 F804No harm
Corvallis ManorCorvallis, OR · Report card4 F804No harm
Embassy of ScrantonScranton, PA · Report card4 F804No harm

What to ask a facility about a F804 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 16, 2026. Counts are citations unless labeled facilities.

What is F804 in a nursing home inspection?

F804 is the CMS F-tag for the requirement "Ensure food and drink is palatable, attractive, and at a safe and appetizing temperature." (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 F804?

F804 was cited 3,920 times at 3,062 facilities (21% of rated nursing homes) in the last three inspection cycles, ranking #29 of 242 tags. 5 of those citations involved actual harm or immediate jeopardy.

Does a F804 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.

Compare the facilities on your shortlist

Put up to three nursing homes side by side with star ratings, staffing, inspection results, and penalties from the latest CMS data. Free, no account needed.

Compare facilities Browse by state