Cold TCS foods must be received at what temperature or lower?

• A. 50 degrees F or lower
• B. 32 degrees F or lower
• C. 45 degrees F or lower
• D. 41 degrees F (5 C) or lower

Answer: (D)

The key rule here is that cold time‑temperature control for safety (TCS) foods must be received at 41°F (5°C) or lower. Keeping cold foods at or below this temperature slows or stops the growth of harmful bacteria that thrive in the danger zone, helping ensure the food stays safe from delivery through storage.

If a cold TCS item arrives warmer than 41°F, it’s not meeting the safe-receiving standard, and you’d either reject it or take steps to bring it down to 41°F or lower within approved limits. Cold foods arriving at temperatures well below 41°F are acceptable because they remain out of the danger zone.

Why the other temperatures don’t fit: 50°F or lower is not the required maximum; it's above the safe threshold and allows bacterial growth. 45°F or lower is also above the safe limit. 32°F or lower is colder than necessary and would unnecessarily reject many safe deliveries that arrive between 32°F and 41°F; the standard maximum is 41°F, not 32°F.