Food Safety Certification Practice Test

What steps should you take if you experience a power failure of refrigerators?

1. Keep doors closed, monitor temperatures, discard product in the temperature danger zone for more than four hours

2. Immediately open doors to air out

3. Transfer products to another refrigerator

4. Discard all products immediately

The correct answer is: Keep doors closed, monitor temperatures, discard product in the temperature danger zone for more than four hours

The recommended action in the event of a refrigerator power failure is to keep the doors closed and monitor the temperatures. This is crucial because a closed refrigerator retains its temperature for a longer period, minimizing the risk of food entering the temperature danger zone, which is between 41°F and 135°F (5°C and 57°C). By keeping the doors shut, the internal temperature can be maintained, allowing you time to evaluate the situation. Monitoring temperatures is essential in assessing how long the food has stayed in the danger zone. If the power is out for more than four hours and the food has reached unsafe temperatures, it is advisable to discard that product to prevent foodborne illness. This approach emphasizes the importance of temperature control in food safety and allows for a more informed decision regarding product safety rather than immediate disposal or unnecessary missteps. Opening the doors unnecessarily, transferring products without understanding their safety parameters, or indiscriminately discarding all products can lead to waste and potentially unsafe practices.