How many hours can cold food be held without refrigeration before it must be sold, served, or thrown out?

The correct answer is based on food safety regulations that dictate proper holding times for cold food without refrigeration. Cold food can be held at room temperature for up to six hours before it must be sold, served, or discarded. This is crucial as leaving food out for too long can allow harmful bacteria to grow, potentially leading to foodborne illnesses.

Maintaining this six-hour limit ensures that food remains safe for consumption while also providing flexibility in service environments where immediate refrigeration might not be feasible. After this time, the risk of food becoming unsafe increases, making it critical to adhere to this guideline to protect public health.

Understanding these time limits is essential for anyone involved in food service, ensuring that food safety practices are followed consistently in order to prevent potential health risks to customers.