(1) The medical assistance facility must have dietary services that are directed and staffed by adequate personnel and meet the following standards:

(a) The facility must assign an employee or contract with a consultant to direct the food and dietetic service and to be responsible for the daily management of the dietary service who is qualified by experience and training as a food service supervisor.

(b) The facility must utilize a qualified dietitian, full-time, part-time, or on a consultant basis.

(c) A therapeutic diet for a patient must be prescribed by the practitioner responsible for the care of that patient.

(d) Nutritional needs must be met in accordance with recognized dietary practices and, at a minimum, the recommended daily dietary allowances established by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences, 8th edition, 1974.

(e) A current therapeutic diet manual approved by the dietitian and medical staff must be readily available to all medical, nursing, and food service personnel.

(f) The department hereby adopts and incorporates by reference the recommended daily dietary allowances published in 1974 by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences, 8th edition, which set the minimum amounts of all nutrients required daily by most normal persons living in the U.S. under usual environmental stresses in order to maintain health, depending upon the age and sex of the individual. Copies of the recommended daily dietary allowances may be obtained from the Department of Public Health and Human Services, Quality Assurance Division, 2401 Colonial Drive, P.O. Box 202953, Helena, MT 59620-2953.