A manager checks a case of fresh salmon and finds the flesh is soft, the eyes are cloudy and sunken, and it smells strongly fishy/ammonia-like. What should happen?
a.Accept it and cook the fillets long enough to eliminate the odor
b.Ice it down overnight, then re-check the eyes and gills tomorrow
c.Reject it, because these are signs of spoilage and quality/safety failure
d.Accept it and run it tonight as a deeply discounted dinner special
Explanation
Fresh fish should have firm flesh, clear bright eyes, red moist gills, and a mild sea smell; soft flesh, cloudy sunken eyes, and a strong ammonia or sour odor are signs of spoilage, and the delivery must be rejected on the spot. Cooking does not reverse spoilage and does not destroy histamine, the scombrotoxin that soft, warm-abused fish can carry. Icing the case only slows further spoilage — the fish will not become fresh again overnight. Discounting it simply moves the risk onto guests.
Law Reference: FDA Food Code §3-202.11Practice all 500 questions free — no signup required.
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