Question

Hazardous foods must be thrown out if at room temperature for longer than this amount of time.

(a) 1 hour.
(b) 2 hours.
(c) 3 hours.
(d) 4 hours.

Answer 1

Perishable foods should not be left at room temperature for more than 2 hours to prevent the risk of foodborne diseases due to bacterial growth.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to food safety guidelines, perishable foods should not be left at room temperature for more than two hours. The correct response to the student's question is (b) 2 hours.

This is because foods left at temperatures between 4 and 60 degrees C (40 and 140 degrees F) can become unsafe to consume due to rapid bacterial growth.

Even heating the leftovers well after this period does not guarantee safety because some bacteria produce toxins that are heat-resistant. Therefore, when food is not maintained at the correct temperature, it should be discarded to prevent the risk of foodborne diseases.