ServSafe Manager Practice Exam

What should be done with food that has passed its use-by date?

1. It should be served with caution

2. It should be stored for later use

3. It should be discarded

4. It should be heated before use

The correct answer is: It should be discarded

Food that has passed its use-by date should be discarded because the use-by date is a safety indicator placed on perishable products. These dates are established by manufacturers to ensure that food is consumed while it's still safe and of high quality. After this date, the safety of the food can no longer be guaranteed, as it may have started to spoil or develop harmful bacteria that could lead to foodborne illnesses. Therefore, it is best practice to eliminate any items that have exceeded their use-by date to protect the health of consumers and maintain food safety standards. Other answers may imply using the food in certain ways, but those do not account for the potential risks associated with consuming expired products. Proper food safety measures dictate that any item past its use-by date should be properly discarded to avoid jeopardizing safety.