Receiving & StorageQuestion 132 of 320
When combining two date-marked ready-to-eat TCS foods (for example, mixing two batches of cooked chicken prepared on different days) into one dish, what discard date should be used?
a.The earliest (soonest) discard date of the ingredients
b.The later of the two prep dates
c.No date is needed once combined
d.A brand-new 7-day count starting today
Explanation
When ready-to-eat TCS ingredients with different date marks are combined, the finished dish must carry the earliest discard date among its components, so nothing is held past its safe limit. Using the later date, restarting the 7-day count, or dropping the date entirely would let some ingredients exceed the maximum safe age. The 7-day maximum at 41°F still governs each component.
Law Reference: FDA Food Code §3-501.17Practice all 320 questions free — no signup required.
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