During receiving, a case of vacuum-packed (ROP) fish has a loose, puffy seal and the package is no longer tight against the product. What should the receiver do?
a.Accept it, because the reduced-oxygen barrier keeps the fish safe well past its printed use-by date
b.Open the package and accept it whenever the fish underneath still smells acceptable
c.Reject it, because a compromised reduced-oxygen package can allow Clostridium botulinum growth
d.Freeze it right away, because freezing destroys any botulinum toxin already formed
Explanation
A reduced-oxygen (ROP/vacuum) package that is puffy, loose, or leaking must be rejected: the lost seal admits oxygen and signals temperature abuse, and Clostridium botulinum toxin is deadly and is not destroyed by cooking. The barrier only protects the fish while the seal is intact, so a failed package cannot be trusted to hold its use-by date. Opening the package to smell it exposes staff and proves nothing, because botulinum toxin has no odor. Freezing halts bacterial growth but leaves any toxin already formed fully active.
Law Reference: FDA Food Code §3-202.15Practice all 500 questions free — no signup required.
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