FREE ServSafe The Flow of Food: Purchasing, Receiving, and Storage Questions and Answers

Question 1

What is the maximum acceptable receiving temperature for cold TCS (Time/Temperature Control for Safety) food?

Accepted Answer

41°F (5°C)

Answer

Cold TCS food, such as meat and dairy, must be received at 41°F (5°C) or lower to prevent the growth of harmful microorganisms. Temperatures above this indicate the food has been in the temperature danger zone for too long.

Question 2

Which of the following is a valid reason to reject a shipment of canned goods?

Accepted Answer

The can has a swollen top or bottom.

Answer

Canned goods should be rejected if they show signs of damage like severe dents (especially on the seams), rust, or swollen tops or bottoms. These can be indicators of botulism or other contamination.

Question 3

What is the correct top-to-bottom storage order for the following items in a refrigerator: raw ground beef, raw chicken breasts, a whole salmon, and a lettuce salad?

Accepted Answer

Lettuce, salmon, ground beef, chicken

Answer

Food should be stored based on its minimum internal cooking temperature to prevent cross-contamination. Ready-to-eat food (lettuce) goes on top, followed by seafood (salmon), whole cuts of meat, ground meat (beef), and finally poultry (chicken) on the bottom.

Question 4

Ready-to-eat TCS food prepared in-house must be date-marked if it is held for longer than:

Accepted Answer

24 hours

Answer

Any ready-to-eat TCS food that is prepared on-site and held for more than 24 hours must be labeled with the date it was prepared or the date by which it must be sold, eaten, or thrown out. This helps ensure food is consumed before pathogens can grow to unsafe levels.

Question 5

Foodservice operations should only purchase food from suppliers who are:

Accepted Answer

Approved and reputable.

Answer

To ensure food safety, all food must be purchased from approved, reputable suppliers. These suppliers are inspected and meet all applicable local, state, and federal laws, reducing the risk of receiving unsafe food.

ServSafe Practice Test

ServSafe Practice Test

FREE ServSafe The Flow of Food: Purchasing, Receiving, and Storage Questions and Answers