Final answer:
The correct temperature for frozen items is -18°C / 0°F or below to ensure food safety and prevent bacterial growth, with proper thawing methods also being important for maintaining safety.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct temperature for frozen items to ensure food safety and prevent bacterial growth is -18°C / 0°F or below. Maintaining this temperature is critical as freezing at -18°C (0°F) will keep foods safe indefinitely, although quality may decrease over time.
Foods should not be thawed at room temperature since freezing preserves, rather than kills, microbes which become active upon thawing. It is recommended to thaw foods slowly in the refrigerator, quickly in the microwave, in cool water, or while cooking, and to never refreeze food that has already been thawed.