Final answer:
To keep food safe when preparing sandwiches with ready-to-eat chicken salad, one must refrigerate the salad promptly and keep it at or below 4 degrees C (40 degrees F). Perishable foods should not be left at room temperature for over two hours to prevent spoilage and foodborne illness.
Step-by-step explanation:
The guideline to follow to keep food safe when preparing sandwiches using ready-to-eat chicken salad is to refrigerate promptly. Foods meant to be eaten cold should be kept refrigerated until served to inhibit bacterial growth. It is important to maintain the temperature in the refrigerator at or below 4 degrees C (40 degrees F) to keep food safe. Any perishable foods left at a temperature between 4 and 60 degrees C (40 and 140 degrees F) for more than two hours should be discarded to prevent the risk of foodborne illnesses.
Regular handwashing is crucial, and all perishable items such as chicken salad should be used within their safe storage life, usually just a few days in the refrigerator. Additionally, perishable leftovers should be refrigerated as soon as possible, and foods should not be left at room temperature for extended periods to minimize the risk of contamination and spoilage.