In the context of food safety, what is the maximum amount of time that food can safely remain in the temperature danger zone (between 4°C and 60°C) before it must be discarded?

• A. 8 hours
• B. 4 hours
• C. 24 hours
• D. 1 hour

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of the temperature danger zone in food safety, which is the range between 4\degree C and 60\degree C where bacteria can grow rapidly.
2. Recall that food safety guidelines recommend limiting the time food spends in this danger zone to prevent bacterial growth that can cause foodborne illness.
3. Identify the maximum safe time food can remain in this temperature range before it must be discarded, which is commonly set by food safety authorities.
4. Note that the widely accepted maximum time is 4 hours, as beyond this period, the risk of harmful bacterial growth increases significantly.
5. Conclude that food should be discarded if it has been in the temperature danger zone for more than 4 hours to ensure safety.