ServSafe - ServSafe Food Safety Purchasing, Receiving and Storage Test 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: At what maximum internal temperature must shell eggs be received?
- 41°F (5°C)
- 45°F (7°C) (Correct answer)
- 50°F (10°C)
- 55°F (13°C)
Correct answer: 45°F (7°C)
Shell eggs must be received at an air temperature of 45°F (7°C) or lower. Unlike most other cold TCS foods, eggs have a slightly higher allowable receiving temperature per FDA Food Code.
Question 2: Which condition would require a food handler to reject a shipment of canned goods?
- Cans with paper labels
- Cans stored on wooden pallets
- Cans with swollen or bulging ends (Correct answer)
- Cans with minor surface rust on the outside
Correct answer: Cans with swollen or bulging ends
Swollen or bulging cans indicate gas production from microbial activity, which may signal Clostridium botulinum contamination. Such cans must be rejected immediately as they pose a serious food safety hazard.
Question 3: When storing food in a walk-in refrigerator, ready-to-eat foods should be stored:
- On the bottom shelf below raw meat
- Directly next to raw seafood
- Above all raw animal proteins (Correct answer)
- At the same level as raw poultry
Correct answer: Above all raw animal proteins
Ready-to-eat foods must be stored above all raw animal proteins to prevent cross-contamination from drips or spills. Raw meats are stored below based on their required minimum internal cooking temperatures.
Question 4: Fresh meat received from a supplier must have an internal temperature no higher than:
- 32°F (0°C)
- 41°F (5°C) (Correct answer)
- 50°F (10°C)
- 55°F (13°C)
Correct answer: 41°F (5°C)
Fresh meat, like most cold TCS foods, must be received at 41°F (5°C) or lower to ensure it has been kept out of the temperature danger zone during transport and storage.
Question 5: Which practice best follows the FIFO (First In, First Out) method of stock rotation?
- Placing new deliveries in front of older stock
- Discarding all products older than one week
- Placing older stock in front and newer stock behind it (Correct answer)
- Storing all items alphabetically by product name
Correct answer: Placing older stock in front and newer stock behind it
FIFO means older products are used first. Staff should rotate stock so older items are pulled to the front and newer deliveries are placed behind them, reducing the risk of spoilage and food waste.
Question 6: Which of the following is NOT an acceptable method for thawing frozen TCS food?
- Under cold running water at 70°F (21°C) or lower
- In a microwave if the food will be cooked immediately
- In a refrigerator at 41°F (5°C) or lower
- On a counter at room temperature for several hours (Correct answer)
Correct answer: On a counter at room temperature for several hours
Thawing food at room temperature allows the outer layers to reach temperatures in the danger zone (41°F–135°F) while the interior is still frozen, promoting bacterial growth. This method is never acceptable under food safety guidelines.
ServSafe - ServSafe Food Safety Purchasing, Receiving and Storage Test 1
At what maximum internal temperature must shell eggs be received?