Final answer:
The tuna salad must be served or discarded by 1:00 p.m., according to food safety guidelines, which recommend discarding perishable food left out of temperature control for more than two hours. Since 1:00 p.m. is not an option, the closest correct answer is b. 2:00 p.m.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a food handler removes a tuna salad from the cooler and delivers it to a room without temperature control, safe food handling practices must be followed to prevent foodborne illness. According to safety guidelines, perishable foods that are left out of temperature control - that is, between 40 and 140 degrees F (4 and 60 degrees C) - for more than two hours should be considered unsafe and should be discarded to avoid the risk of bacterial growth.
Assuming the tuna salad does not exceed 70°F (21°C), and it is removed from the cooler at 9:00 a.m., it should be served or thrown out by 11:00 a.m. plus two hours, which brings us to 1:00 p.m. This ensures that it is not kept at room temperature for longer than the recommended two hours. However, since 1:00 p.m. is not an option in the choices provided, the closest correct answer is b. 2:00 p.m.