Ontario Food Handler Certification Practice Exam

What action should be taken with food that has been left out at room temperature for more than two hours?

1. Refrigerate it

2. Freeze it for later use

3. Discard it

4. Cook it thoroughly before serving

The correct answer is: Discard it

The recommended action for food that has been left out at room temperature for more than two hours is to discard it. This guideline is based on food safety practices that focus on preventing the growth of harmful bacteria. When food is left out at room temperature, particularly in the temperature danger zone (between 4°C and 60°C or 40°F and 140°F), bacteria can multiply rapidly. After two hours, the risk of foodborne illness significantly increases, making it unsafe to consume. Refrigerating or freezing the food would not eliminate the potential bacteria that may have developed during that time, as cold temperatures do not kill bacteria but rather slow down their growth. Cooking the food thoroughly may kill some bacteria, but it may not eliminate toxins that could have been produced by bacteria while the food was at an unsafe temperature. Therefore, the best practice is to prioritize safety by discarding food that has been left out too long.