How many days can refrigerated, ready-to-eat time/temperature control for safety (TCS) foods be stored safely...

Date marking is a critical safety protocol for ready-to-eat (RTE) TCS foods that are prepared on-site and held for more than 24 hours. According to ServSafe and the FDA Food Code, these foods can be stored for a maximum of7 daysif they are maintained at an internal temperature of $41^{\circ}F$ ($5^{\circ}C$) or lower. The count begins on the day the food was prepared or the day a commercial container was opened. For example, if a large batch of potato salad is made on October 1st, its "use-by" date would be October 7th. This seven-day limit is based on the growth rate ofListeria monocytogenes, a dangerous pathogen that can grow at refrigeration temperatures. While it grows slowly at $41^{\circ}F$, after seven days, its population can reach levels high enough to cause serious illness, particularly in high-risk populations.

Proper labeling must include the name of the food and the clear use-by or discard date. If a food item contains multiple ingredients with different discard dates (for example, a wrap made with turkey that expires on the 5th and cheese that expires on the 7th), the entire dish must be discarded on theearliestdate (the 5th). Managers must implement a "First In, First Out" (FIFO) system and conduct daily checks of refrigerated units to ensure that any food exceeding the seven-day limit is discarded immediately. This protocol is an essential "Active Managerial Control" to prevent the service of compromised food. Failure to properly date-mark is one of the most common violations found during health inspections because it removes the only objective way to track the safety and age of prepared foods.