- Cook poultry to what temperature?
- 165°F (74°C)
- Cook ground meat to what temperature?
- 155°F (68°C) for 17 seconds
- Cook seafood to what temperature?
- 145°F (63°C) for 15 seconds
- Cook steaks and chops to what temperature?
- 145°F (63°C) for 15 seconds
- Cook eggs cooked to order to what temperature?
- 145°F (63°C)
- Cook eggs that will be held for service to what temperature?
- 155°F (68°C)
- Cook fruit, vegetables, and grains that will be hot-held to what temperature?
- 135°F (57°C)
- Reheat TCS food for hot-holding to what temperature?
- 165°F (74°C) for 15 seconds within 2 hours
- What is the temperature danger zone?
- 41°F to 135°F (5°C to 57°C)
- In what range do bacteria grow fastest?
- Between 70°F and 125°F
- What is the hot-holding temperature for TCS food?
- 135°F (57°C) or higher
- What is the cold-holding temperature for TCS food?
- 41°F (5°C) or lower
- How long can TCS food stay in the danger zone before being discarded?
- A maximum of 4 cumulative hours
- What is the first stage of two-stage cooling?
- Cool from 135°F to 70°F within 2 hours
- What is the second stage of two-stage cooling?
- Cool from 70°F to 41°F within 4 more hours
- How long total does two-stage cooling allow?
- 6 hours (2 hours then 4 hours)
- What if food does not reach 70°F in the first 2 hours of cooling?
- Reheat it and start over, or throw it out
- Where do you measure a food's internal temperature?
- In the thickest part of the food
- What kind of thermometer must you use to check temperatures?
- A clean, calibrated thermometer
- Name two ways to calibrate a thermometer.
- Ice-point method (32°F) and boiling-point method (212°F)
- Name ways to cool food quickly.
- Ice baths, ice paddles, shallow pans, blast chillers, smaller portions
- What is time-temperature abuse?
- Letting food stay too long at temperatures that allow pathogen growth
- How often should you check the temperature of hot-held food?
- At least every 4 hours
- What temperature should cold TCS food be received at?
- 41°F (5°C) or lower
- What temperature should live shellfish and shell eggs be received at?
- 45°F (7°C) or lower (per code)
- What temperature should frozen food be received at?
- Frozen solid, with no signs of thawing or refreezing
- What is 'time as a public health control'?
- Using time alone (not temperature) to keep food safe for a limited, monitored period
- What is the magic minimum cooking temperature to remember for reheating?
- 165°F
- Why is the first stage of cooling the most critical?
- Food is in the warmer, faster-growth part of the danger zone
- What does TCS stand for?
- Time/Temperature Control for Safety
- What is a foodborne illness?
- A disease transmitted to people by food
- What makes a foodborne-illness outbreak?
- Two or more people get the same illness from eating the same food
- What is TCS food?
- Food that needs time and temperature control to limit bacterial growth
- Give examples of TCS food.
- Meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, eggs, cooked rice/beans, cut melons, cut leafy greens
- What is ready-to-eat (RTE) food?
- Food eaten without further washing or cooking (cooked food, washed produce, deli meats, bread)
- What does FATTOM stand for?
- Food, Acidity, Temperature, Time, Oxygen, Moisture
- Which two FATTOM conditions can a food handler control?
- Temperature and Time
- What are the three types of contamination?
- Biological, chemical, and physical
- Give an example of biological contamination.
- Bacteria, viruses, parasites, or fungi (and their toxins)
- Give an example of chemical contamination.
- Cleaners, sanitizers, pesticides, or toxic metals
- Give an example of physical contamination.
- Glass, metal shavings, bone, hair, or bandages
- Name the four big risk factors for foodborne illness.
- Poor personal hygiene, time-temperature abuse, cross-contamination, food from unsafe sources
- Who are the high-risk populations for foodborne illness?
- Young children, older adults, pregnant people, and people with weakened immune systems
- Why can't you rely on sight or smell to detect pathogens?
- Most pathogens can't be seen, smelled, or tasted
- Where must food be purchased from?
- An approved, reputable supplier
- What does FIFO stand for and mean?
- First In, First Out — use the oldest, soonest-to-expire stock first
- What is a pathogen?
- A microorganism (bacteria, virus, parasite, or fungus) that causes illness
- What kind of contamination causes most foodborne illness?
- Biological (pathogens)
- When does cut produce like melon become TCS food?
- Once it is cut
- Is uncut whole fruit a TCS food?
- No — it becomes TCS only after it is cut
- What conditions do bacteria grow best in?
- Moist, protein-rich, slightly acidic to neutral food held in the danger zone
- Why is ready-to-eat food risky to handle?
- It gets no further cooking to kill pathogens
- What is contamination?
- The presence of harmful biological, chemical, or physical substances in food
- Name some bacteria that cause foodborne illness.
- Salmonella, Shigella, Listeria, E. coli, Campylobacter
- Name a virus that causes foodborne illness.
- Norovirus and Hepatitis A
- How are most viruses transferred to food?
- By food handlers with poor personal hygiene (the fecal-oral route)
- What is the best way to prevent the spread of viruses through food?
- Good personal hygiene and handwashing
- What is a deliberate contamination of food called?
- Food defense is the program that protects against it (e.g., the FDA ALERT tool)
- Why is buying from unsafe sources dangerous?
- The food may already be contaminated before it reaches you
- How long should the whole handwashing process take?
- At least 20 seconds
- How long should you scrub during handwashing?
- 10 to 15 seconds, vigorously
- What are the 5 steps of handwashing?
- Wet, soap, scrub, rinse, dry
- What water temperature should you use to wash hands?
- Warm running water, at least 100°F (38°C)
- How should you dry your hands?
- With a single-use paper towel or a hand dryer
- Where must food handlers wash their hands?
- At a designated handwashing sink only
- Name times you must wash your hands.
- Before work/gloving and after the restroom, raw meat, touching your face, sneezing, garbage, or chemicals
- Can hand sanitizer replace handwashing?
- No — antiseptic is used only after washing, never instead of it
- Can you touch ready-to-eat food with bare hands?
- No — use gloves, tongs, deli paper, or other utensils
- Do gloves replace handwashing?
- No — wash hands before putting gloves on
- When should you change single-use gloves?
- When torn or soiled, after handling raw meat, and when switching tasks
- Are single-use gloves washed and reused?
- No — they are used once and thrown away
- What symptoms must a food handler report to a manager?
- Vomiting, diarrhea, jaundice, sore throat with fever, and infected wounds
- What are the Big 6 reportable foodborne pathogens?
- Norovirus, Hepatitis A, Shigella, Salmonella Typhi, nontyphoidal Salmonella, and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli
- What does it mean to be 'excluded' from the operation?
- Sent home / not allowed in the operation while sick
- What does it mean to be 'restricted'?
- Kept from working with or around food, but may do other tasks
- How should a hand wound be covered?
- With a clean bandage AND a single-use glove
- What should a food handler do with a sore throat and fever?
- Report it; they may be restricted from working with food
- Why must a food handler with jaundice be excluded?
- Jaundice can indicate Hepatitis A, which spreads easily through food
- Can you eat, drink, or smoke in prep areas?
- No — do so only in designated areas away from food
- Can you chew gum while preparing food?
- No — it can contaminate food
- What are the rules for fingernails?
- Keep them short, clean, and unpolished; no false nails
- What should you do with hair in a food operation?
- Restrain it with a hat or hair net
- Why is a clean uniform important?
- A dirty apron or uniform can transfer pathogens to food
- What is the single most important food-safety habit?
- Proper handwashing
- Should you wear jewelry while handling food?
- Remove it (except a plain band ring) — it can harbor pathogens or fall into food
- What should you do after touching your hair, face, or body?
- Wash your hands before handling food again
- Where should you taste food to check seasoning?
- Use a clean, single-use spoon — never your fingers or a used spoon
- Can a food handler work while having diarrhea?
- No — they must be excluded or restricted and report it
- What is cross-contamination?
- The transfer of pathogens from one surface or food to another
- What is cross-contact?
- The transfer of an allergen to a food that did not contain it
- How do you prevent cross-contamination?
- Separate raw and ready-to-eat food, and clean and sanitize between tasks
- In what order do you store food in a cooler?
- Top to bottom by minimum cooking temperature
- What food goes on the top cooler shelf?
- Ready-to-eat food
- What food goes on the bottom cooler shelf?
- Raw poultry (it needs the highest cooking temperature, 165°F)
- What is the cooler storage order top to bottom?
- RTE, seafood (145°F), whole beef/pork (145°F), ground meat (155°F), poultry (165°F)
- Why store raw poultry on the bottom shelf?
- So its juices can't drip onto food below it
- What tools help prevent cross-contamination?
- Color-coded cutting boards and separate utensils for raw vs. RTE food
- What are the Big 9 food allergens?
- Milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, sesame
- Which allergen was added in 2023 as the 9th major allergen?
- Sesame (effective January 1, 2023)
- What is an allergen?
- A protein that triggers an allergic reaction in some people
- What is the most severe allergic reaction?
- Anaphylaxis — a life-threatening reaction
- How do you serve a guest with a food allergy safely?
- Prevent cross-contact, use clean tools/surfaces, and tell them exactly what's in the food
- What should you do if unsure whether a dish contains an allergen?
- Find out — never guess
- What common foods contain milk?
- Cheese, butter, cream, and many sauces and baked goods
- What common foods contain wheat?
- Bread, pasta, breading, and many sauces
- What common foods contain soy?
- Soy sauce, tofu, edamame, and many processed foods
- What common foods contain sesame?
- Tahini, hummus, buns, seasoning blends, and some oils
- What is crustacean shellfish?
- Shrimp, crab, and lobster
- How should raw and ready-to-eat food be prepped?
- At different times or in different areas, with clean and sanitized equipment between
- How do you clean equipment to prevent cross-contamination?
- Clean AND sanitize it between raw and ready-to-eat tasks
- Why are allergens a food-safety concern even though they aren't pathogens?
- They can cause severe or fatal allergic reactions in sensitive people
- What should you do before preparing an allergen-free order?
- Wash hands, change gloves, and use clean and sanitized utensils and surfaces
- Can cooking destroy a food allergen?
- No — cooking does not reliably remove allergens, so cross-contact must be prevented
- What is the safest way to communicate allergen information to a guest?
- Tell them exactly what ingredients are in the dish; involve the manager if needed
- What is a physical barrier against cross-contamination?
- Separate storage, separate equipment, and separate prep areas
- Where should raw meat thaw to avoid cross-contamination?
- In the cooler on the bottom shelf, in a container that catches drips
- What is the difference between cleaning and sanitizing?
- Cleaning removes dirt; sanitizing reduces pathogens to safe levels
- Which comes first, cleaning or sanitizing?
- Cleaning — sanitizer doesn't work on a dirty surface
- What is cleaning?
- Removing food, dirt, and grease from a surface with detergent and water
- What is sanitizing?
- Reducing the pathogens on a clean surface to safe levels using heat or chemicals
- Name three common chemical sanitizers.
- Chlorine, quaternary ammonium (quats), and iodine
- How do you confirm a sanitizer is at the right concentration?
- Use test strips
- How often must you clean and sanitize a food-contact surface in continuous use?
- At least every 4 hours
- When else must you clean and sanitize food-contact surfaces?
- After each use, when switching between raw and RTE food, and after an interruption
- What are the steps of a three-compartment sink?
- Wash, rinse, sanitize, then air-dry
- What happens in the first compartment of a three-compartment sink?
- Wash in detergent and warm water (at least 110°F)
- What happens in the second compartment?
- Rinse in clean water
- What happens in the third compartment?
- Sanitize in hot water or chemical sanitizer solution
- How should clean items be dried?
- Air-dry — never towel-dry
- Why not towel-dry dishes?
- A towel can recontaminate the clean items
- What should you do before washing items in the sink?
- Scrape and pre-rinse them
- When should you change the wash water in a three-compartment sink?
- When it is dirty, cold, or full of suds
- How do you prevent pests?
- Deny them access, food, and shelter
- How do you deny pests access to a building?
- Keep doors and windows closed and screened; seal cracks and openings
- How should food and garbage be stored to prevent pests?
- In sealed containers, off the floor
- Who should apply pesticides in a food operation?
- A licensed pest control operator (PCO)
- What should you do if you see signs of pests?
- Report them to a manager (e.g., droppings or gnaw marks)
- What is a food-contact surface?
- Any surface that touches food
- What temperature should the wash water be in a three-compartment sink?
- At least 110°F
- What is the best overall pest control?
- A clean, organized operation
- How should garbage be handled?
- Removed often, with containers and dumpsters kept closed and clean
- Why store food off the floor?
- To keep it away from pests, dirt, and contamination
- What is the purpose of sanitizing food-contact surfaces?
- To reduce pathogens left after cleaning to safe levels
- Can a surface be clean but not sanitized?
- Yes — cleaning and sanitizing are two separate steps
- Cook a whole roast (beef, pork, veal, lamb) to what temperature?
- 145°F (63°C) with the proper hold time
- Cook a TCS food in a microwave to what temperature?
- 165°F (stir and let stand to even out the heat)
- How long can cold food without temperature control be displayed (time control)?
- Up to 6 hours if it starts at 41°F and stays below 70°F
- How long can hot food without temperature control be displayed (time control)?
- Up to 4 hours, then it must be discarded
- What is the maximum receiving temperature for milk?
- 45°F or lower, then cooled to 41°F within 4 hours
- What is thermal sanitizing by hot water?
- Immersing items in water at least 171°F for 30 seconds
- What is the danger zone in Celsius?
- 5°C to 57°C
- Why must you let microwaved food stand?
- To let the heat spread evenly and finish killing pathogens
- What should you do if hot-held food drops below 135°F?
- Reheat it to 165°F within 2 hours, or discard it
- How should you thaw frozen food safely?
- In the cooler, under running water (≤70°F), in the microwave, or as part of cooking
- Why is thawing food at room temperature unsafe?
- The outside enters the danger zone while the inside is still frozen
- What does 'instant' or '15 seconds' mean for cooking temps?
- The food must hold that temperature for that time to be safe
- What is a toxin in food safety?
- A poison produced by some bacteria (e.g., from Staphylococcus) that cooking may not destroy
- What is a parasite?
- An organism that needs a host to live; found in seafood and wild game (killed by proper cooking or freezing)
- How are most parasites destroyed?
- By proper cooking, or by freezing fish meant for raw service
- What is the fecal-oral route?
- Pathogens passing from feces to the mouth, usually via unwashed hands — prevented by handwashing
- What is Salmonella commonly linked to?
- Poultry, eggs, and produce
- What is Norovirus commonly linked to?
- Ready-to-eat food and shellfish contaminated by infected handlers
- What is a food-safety management system?
- A group of practices and procedures that keep food safe (e.g., good hygiene, temperature control)
- What is the flow of food?
- The path food takes through an operation: receiving, storage, prep, cooking, holding, cooling, reheating, service
- Why inspect food when it is received?
- To reject unsafe food before it enters the operation
- When should you reject a delivery?
- If food is at an unsafe temperature, damaged, expired, or shows signs of contamination
- What is a key sign of refreezing in delivered frozen food?
- Ice crystals or fluid lines / frozen liquids in the package
- What is the safest way to label stored food?
- With the name and a use-by/discard date
- How long can prepared TCS food be stored in the cooler before use?
- Up to 7 days at 41°F or lower, with a use-by date
- Should a food handler with an infected cut on the finger work with food?
- Only if it is covered with a bandage and a glove (or finger cot)
- Why must hands be dried with a single-use towel?
- Wet hands spread pathogens more easily, and reusable towels can recontaminate
- What should you do after handling money or a phone?
- Wash your hands before handling food
- Can you wear nail polish while handling food without gloves?
- No — it can chip into food and harbor pathogens
- What is a hand antiseptic and when is it used?
- A liquid/gel that lowers pathogens on skin, used only AFTER handwashing
- Why are food handlers a top source of contamination?
- They can carry pathogens on their hands, in their bodies, and on dirty clothing
- What should you do if you must cough or sneeze?
- Turn away from food, cover your mouth, then wash your hands
- Where do you store personal items like coats and bags?
- Away from food, equipment, and prep areas
- What's the rule for aprons when leaving a prep area?
- Remove the apron before leaving (e.g., to take out garbage)
- What are tree nuts?
- Almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans, pistachios, and similar nuts
- Is a peanut a tree nut?
- No — peanuts are legumes, but they are still one of the Big 9 allergens
- Why use separate equipment for an allergen-free order?
- Shared equipment can transfer allergens (cross-contact) and cause a reaction
- What is the safe way to handle a guest's allergy question you can't answer?
- Get a manager — never guess about ingredients
- How can a deli slicer cause cross-contact?
- It can transfer allergen residue from one food to the next unless cleaned and sanitized
- What is the storage rule summarized in one line?
- Highest cook temperature goes lowest in the cooler
- Why keep chemicals away from food?
- To prevent chemical contamination of food and surfaces
- How should cleaning chemicals be stored?
- In labeled containers, away from food and prep areas
- Which Big 9 allergen is often hidden in salad dressings?
- Fish (anchovies in Caesar) and eggs (mayonnaise)
- Can you remove an allergen from a finished dish?
- No — you must remake the dish without the allergen
- What does a sanitizer's 'contact time' mean?
- How long the sanitizer must stay on the surface to work
- What concentration is common for a chlorine sanitizer?
- About 50–99 ppm (check the manufacturer/test strips)
- Why follow the manufacturer's directions for sanitizer?
- Concentration, water temperature, and contact time all affect whether it works
- What should a cleaning schedule include?
- What to clean, who cleans it, when, and how
- How should you clean up after a vomiting or diarrheal event?
- Follow a written clean-up procedure to contain and disinfect the area
- Where should mops and cleaning tools be stored?
- Off the floor and air-dried, away from food and prep areas
- What is the safest way to dispose of garbage indoors?
- In leak-proof, pest-proof, covered containers emptied often
- What does NSF certification on equipment mean?
- The equipment meets sanitation standards and is safe for foodservice
- How should you store clean tableware and utensils?
- Covered or inverted, off the floor, in a clean dry area
- How should you handle clean glasses and cups?
- By the base or handle — never touch food-contact surfaces
- How should you carry clean flatware?
- By the handles, not the part that touches food
- What's the difference between high-temp and chemical dish machines?
- High-temp machines sanitize with hot water; chemical machines use a sanitizing solution