Question

1. a food handler left a cooked beef dish on the counter for five hours. what should the food worker do now?

a) cover the food.
b) reheat the food to 145°f.
c) throw the food in the trash.
d) serve the food immediately.

Explanation:

Cooked beef left at room temperature (the "danger zone" for bacterial growth, typically 40°F to 140°F) for over 2 hours is unsafe to consume. Five hours exceeds this threshold, so the food should be discarded to prevent foodborne illness.

Answer:

c) Throw the food in the trash.