CSA Quality Standards & Compliance 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which FDA regulation primarily governs the safety of food colorings used in sugar art decorations sold commercially in the US?
- 21 CFR Part 101
- 21 CFR Part 73 (Correct answer)
- 21 CFR Part 110
- 21 CFR Part 170
Correct answer: 21 CFR Part 73
21 CFR Part 73 lists permanently listed color additives exempt from batch certification, which includes many colorings used in food decoration.
Question 2: A sugar showpiece developed small cracks after 48 hours of display. Which compliance issue does this most directly indicate?
- Use of non-food-grade colorants
- Incorrect sugar-to-water ratio in the original cook
- Improper humidity control during storage (Correct answer)
- Failure to temper isomalt properly
Correct answer: Improper humidity control during storage
Humidity fluctuations cause sugar and isomalt pieces to absorb moisture and expand unevenly, leading to cracking during extended display.
Question 3: When labeling a commercially sold sugar flower as an edible decoration, the ingredient list must use what name for titanium dioxide?
- Pearl white additive
- E171
- White pigment
- Titanium dioxide (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Titanium dioxide
FDA requires ingredients to be listed by their common or usual name, so 'titanium dioxide' is the required label term in the US.
Question 4: A batch of pulled sugar roses shows inconsistent color saturation across pieces. The FIRST corrective action in a quality control process should be:
- Increase food coloring concentration in all future batches
- Document the batch variation and identify the root cause (Correct answer)
- Discard the entire batch immediately
- Change the sugar brand used
Correct answer: Document the batch variation and identify the root cause
Quality control protocol requires documenting defects and tracing the root cause before making corrective changes to the process.
Question 5: Which of the following is the correct internal temperature range for a sugar cook that achieves hard crack stage, relevant to structural showpiece compliance?
- 270–285°F (132–141°C)
- 320–340°F (160–171°C)
- 250–265°F (121–129°C)
- 300–310°F (149–154°C) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: 300–310°F (149–154°C)
Hard crack stage is reached at 300–310°F, producing a rigid structure suitable for display showpieces.
Question 6: Under ServSafe and most state health codes, a sugar artist who has a diagnosed skin infection on their hands must:
- Wear double gloves and continue working
- Refrain from handling edible sugar products until the infection is resolved (Correct answer)
- Use hand sanitizer every 30 minutes and continue
- Work only on non-edible display pieces
Correct answer: Refrain from handling edible sugar products until the infection is resolved
Food handlers with skin infections that could contaminate food must be excluded from handling edible products under standard food safety regulations.
Question 7: Which standard specifically addresses the allergen labeling requirements a commercial sugar artist must follow when gum paste contains wheat-based tylose powder?
- 21 CFR Part 117
- FDA GRAS Notice Program
- FSMA Preventive Controls Rule
- FALCPA (Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: FALCPA (Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act)
FALCPA requires that products containing any of the eight major allergens, including wheat, declare them clearly on the label.
CSA Quality Standards & Compliance 2
Which FDA regulation primarily governs the safety of food colorings used in sugar art decorations sold commercially in the US?