Texas Food Managers Certification Practice Exam

What should be done with potato salad received at a temperature of 50°F?

1. Place it in the freezer for rapid cooling

2. Place it in the refrigerator for rapid cooling

3. Reject the shipment

4. Use it as soon as possible

The correct answer is: Reject the shipment

When potato salad is received at a temperature of 50°F, it indicates that it has not been maintained at a safe temperature during storage and transport. The danger zone for food, where bacteria can rapidly multiply, is between 41°F and 135°F. Since potato salad is typically made with perishable ingredients like mayonnaise and cooked potatoes, allowing it to reach 50°F presents a significant food safety risk. Rejecting the shipment is the correct course of action because it prevents the potential consumption of food that could harbor unsafe levels of bacteria, increasing the risk of foodborne illnesses. Maintaining strict temperature control is crucial in food safety practices, especially for TCS (Temperature-Controlled for Safety) foods like potato salad. This ensures that all served food is safe for consumption and reduces the likelihood of foodborne illness outbreaks.