A cook opens a commercial container of ready-to-eat deli ham on Wednesday and will hold it cold at 41°F. What date-marking rule applies?
a.It must be thrown out at the close of business on the day the container was opened, even the unopened portions
b.No date mark is needed on a commercial product, because the manufacturer's sell-by date on the package governs it
c.It may be date-marked for 14 days at 41°F, with the count starting the day after opening
d.It must be date-marked and used within 7 days, counting the day it was opened/prepared as day 1
Explanation
Once a commercial container of ready-to-eat TCS food is opened, it must be date-marked and used within 7 days when held at 41°F or below, counting the day of opening or preparation as day 1. Fourteen days is twice the limit, and starting the count the day after opening also stretches it. Same-day discard is stricter than the Code requires, and the manufacturer's sell-by date does not replace the date mark once the container is opened. Date marking controls slow-growing pathogens like Listeria under refrigeration.
Law Reference: FDA Food Code §3-501.17Practice all 500 questions free — no signup required.
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