Servsafe Food Manager Exam/ All Actual Exam Practice
Questions with Correct Answers/ Updated 2024-2025
foodborne illness - ANSWER - a disease transmitted to people by food
An illness is considered an outbreak when... - ANSWER - • atleast 2 people have the same symptoms
after eating the same food
• an investigation is conducted by state and local regulatory authorities
• outbreak is confirmed by a labratory analysis
What is the first challenge operations have when it
comes to food safety and why? - ANSWER - • Time (pressure to work quicky can make it hard to take the
time to follow food safety practices)
What is the second challenge operations have when it comes to food safety and why? - ANSWER -
Language and Culture (Your staff may speak a different language than you do. This can make it difficult to
communicate. Cultural differences can also influence how food handlers view food safety.
What is the third challenge operations have when it
comes to food safety and why? - ANSWER - Literacy and Education (Staff often have different levels of
education. This makes it more challenging to teach them food safety.
What is the fourth challenge operations have when it comes to food safety and why? - ANSWER -
Pathogens (Illness-causing microorganisms are more frequently found on types of food that once were
considered safe.)
What is the fifth challenge operations have when it comes to food safety and why? - ANSWER -
Unapproved suppliers ( Food that is recieved from suppliers that are not practicing food safety can cause
a foodborne-illness outbreak.)
pg. 1
,What is the sixth challenge operations have when it comes to food safety? - ANSWER - High-risk
customers (the number of customers at high risk for getting a foodborne illness is increasing. An example
of this is the growing elderly population.)
What is the seventh challenge operations have when it comes to food safety? - ANSWER - Staff turnover
(training new staff leaves less time for food safety training)
What is the cost of foodborne illnesses? - ANSWER - One outbreak can cost an operation thousands of
dollars, and it can result in closure.
What are the costs of foodborne illnesses to an operation? - ANSWER - •loss of customers and sales
•loss of reputation
•negative media exposure
•lowered staff morale
•lawsuits and legal fees
•staff missing work
•increased insurance premiums
•staff retraining
What are the cost of foodborne illnesses to the victim? - ANSWER - •lost work
•medical costs and long-term disablity
•death
What is unsafe food usually the result of? - ANSWER - contamination (the presence of harmful
substances in food)
what is a way to prevent foodborne illnesses? - ANSWER - recognize the contaminants that can make
food unsafe (pathogens, chemicals, physical objects, and certain unsafe practices in your operation)
How many categories are contaminants divided into? - ANSWER - 3
pg. 2
,What is the first category of contaminants - ANSWER - Biological (Pathogens are the greatest threat to
food safety. They include certain viruses, parasites, fungi, and bacteria. Some plants, mushrooms, and
seafood that carry harmful toxins (poisons) are also included im this group.) This category is responsible
for most foodborne illnesses.
What is the second category of contaminants? - ANSWER - Chemical (Foodservice chemicals can
contaminate food if they are used incorrectly. Chemical contaminates may include cleaners, sanitizers,
and polishes.)
What is the third category of contaminants? - ANSWER - Physical (Foreign objects such as metal
shavings, staples, and bandages can get into the food. So can glass, dirt, and even bag ties. Naturally
occuring objects, such as fish bones in fillets, are another example.)
What are the five most commom food-handling mistakes, or risk factors, that can cause a foodborne
illness? - ANSWER - •Purchasing food from unsafe sources
•Failing to cook food correctly
•Holding food at incorrect temperatures
•Using contaminated equipment
•Practicing poor personal hygiene
What is the first of the four main factors that 4 of the 5 risk factors or mistakes are related to? - ANSWER
- Time-temperature abuse (Food has been time-temperature abused when it has stayed too long at
temperatures that are good for the growth of pathogens which can result in foodborne illnesses. This an
happen in many ways such as:
• food is not held or stored at the correct temperatures
• food is not cooked or reheated enough to kill pathogens
•food is not cooled correctly)
What is the second of the four main factors that 4 of the 5 risk factors or mistakes are related to? -
ANSWER - Cross-Contamination ( This is when pathogens can be transferred from one surface to
another. It can cause a foodborne illness in many ways such as:
• contaminated ingredients are added to food that recieves no further cooking
•Ready-to-eat food touches contaminated surfaces
pg. 3
, •Contaminated food touches or drips fluids onto cooked or ready-to-eat food
•A food handler touches contaminated food and then touches ready-to-eat food
•contaminated cleaning cloths touch food-contact surfaces)
What is the third of the 4 main factors that 4 of the 5 risk factors or mistakes are related to? - ANSWER -
Poor Personal Hygiene ( Actions that food handlers do that cause foodborne illnesses include:
• fail to wash their hands correctly after using the restroom
•cough or sneeze on food
•touch or scratch wounds and then touch food
•work while sick)
What is the fourth of the 4 main factors that 4 of the 5 risk factors or mistakes are related to? - ANSWER
- Poor cleaning and sanitizing (pathogens can be spread to food if equipment has not been cleaned and
sanitized correctly between uses. This can happen in the following way:
•equipment and utensils are not washed, rinsed, and sanitized between uses
•Food-contact surfaces are wiped clean rather than being washed, rinsed, and sanitized
•Wiping cloths are not stored in a sanitizer solution between uses
•Sanitizing solutions are not at the required level to sanitize objects
What is TCS food? - ANSWER - food requiring time and temperature control to limit growth of pathogens
What foods are categorized as TCS food? - ANSWER - •milk and dairy products
•shell eggs (except those treated to eliminate nontyphoidal Salmonella)
•Meat: beaf, pork, and lamb
•poultry
•fish
•shellfish and crustaceans
•baked potatoes
•heat-treated plant food, such as cooked rice, beans, and vegetables
•tofu or other soy protein
pg. 4
Questions with Correct Answers/ Updated 2024-2025
foodborne illness - ANSWER - a disease transmitted to people by food
An illness is considered an outbreak when... - ANSWER - • atleast 2 people have the same symptoms
after eating the same food
• an investigation is conducted by state and local regulatory authorities
• outbreak is confirmed by a labratory analysis
What is the first challenge operations have when it
comes to food safety and why? - ANSWER - • Time (pressure to work quicky can make it hard to take the
time to follow food safety practices)
What is the second challenge operations have when it comes to food safety and why? - ANSWER -
Language and Culture (Your staff may speak a different language than you do. This can make it difficult to
communicate. Cultural differences can also influence how food handlers view food safety.
What is the third challenge operations have when it
comes to food safety and why? - ANSWER - Literacy and Education (Staff often have different levels of
education. This makes it more challenging to teach them food safety.
What is the fourth challenge operations have when it comes to food safety and why? - ANSWER -
Pathogens (Illness-causing microorganisms are more frequently found on types of food that once were
considered safe.)
What is the fifth challenge operations have when it comes to food safety and why? - ANSWER -
Unapproved suppliers ( Food that is recieved from suppliers that are not practicing food safety can cause
a foodborne-illness outbreak.)
pg. 1
,What is the sixth challenge operations have when it comes to food safety? - ANSWER - High-risk
customers (the number of customers at high risk for getting a foodborne illness is increasing. An example
of this is the growing elderly population.)
What is the seventh challenge operations have when it comes to food safety? - ANSWER - Staff turnover
(training new staff leaves less time for food safety training)
What is the cost of foodborne illnesses? - ANSWER - One outbreak can cost an operation thousands of
dollars, and it can result in closure.
What are the costs of foodborne illnesses to an operation? - ANSWER - •loss of customers and sales
•loss of reputation
•negative media exposure
•lowered staff morale
•lawsuits and legal fees
•staff missing work
•increased insurance premiums
•staff retraining
What are the cost of foodborne illnesses to the victim? - ANSWER - •lost work
•medical costs and long-term disablity
•death
What is unsafe food usually the result of? - ANSWER - contamination (the presence of harmful
substances in food)
what is a way to prevent foodborne illnesses? - ANSWER - recognize the contaminants that can make
food unsafe (pathogens, chemicals, physical objects, and certain unsafe practices in your operation)
How many categories are contaminants divided into? - ANSWER - 3
pg. 2
,What is the first category of contaminants - ANSWER - Biological (Pathogens are the greatest threat to
food safety. They include certain viruses, parasites, fungi, and bacteria. Some plants, mushrooms, and
seafood that carry harmful toxins (poisons) are also included im this group.) This category is responsible
for most foodborne illnesses.
What is the second category of contaminants? - ANSWER - Chemical (Foodservice chemicals can
contaminate food if they are used incorrectly. Chemical contaminates may include cleaners, sanitizers,
and polishes.)
What is the third category of contaminants? - ANSWER - Physical (Foreign objects such as metal
shavings, staples, and bandages can get into the food. So can glass, dirt, and even bag ties. Naturally
occuring objects, such as fish bones in fillets, are another example.)
What are the five most commom food-handling mistakes, or risk factors, that can cause a foodborne
illness? - ANSWER - •Purchasing food from unsafe sources
•Failing to cook food correctly
•Holding food at incorrect temperatures
•Using contaminated equipment
•Practicing poor personal hygiene
What is the first of the four main factors that 4 of the 5 risk factors or mistakes are related to? - ANSWER
- Time-temperature abuse (Food has been time-temperature abused when it has stayed too long at
temperatures that are good for the growth of pathogens which can result in foodborne illnesses. This an
happen in many ways such as:
• food is not held or stored at the correct temperatures
• food is not cooked or reheated enough to kill pathogens
•food is not cooled correctly)
What is the second of the four main factors that 4 of the 5 risk factors or mistakes are related to? -
ANSWER - Cross-Contamination ( This is when pathogens can be transferred from one surface to
another. It can cause a foodborne illness in many ways such as:
• contaminated ingredients are added to food that recieves no further cooking
•Ready-to-eat food touches contaminated surfaces
pg. 3
, •Contaminated food touches or drips fluids onto cooked or ready-to-eat food
•A food handler touches contaminated food and then touches ready-to-eat food
•contaminated cleaning cloths touch food-contact surfaces)
What is the third of the 4 main factors that 4 of the 5 risk factors or mistakes are related to? - ANSWER -
Poor Personal Hygiene ( Actions that food handlers do that cause foodborne illnesses include:
• fail to wash their hands correctly after using the restroom
•cough or sneeze on food
•touch or scratch wounds and then touch food
•work while sick)
What is the fourth of the 4 main factors that 4 of the 5 risk factors or mistakes are related to? - ANSWER
- Poor cleaning and sanitizing (pathogens can be spread to food if equipment has not been cleaned and
sanitized correctly between uses. This can happen in the following way:
•equipment and utensils are not washed, rinsed, and sanitized between uses
•Food-contact surfaces are wiped clean rather than being washed, rinsed, and sanitized
•Wiping cloths are not stored in a sanitizer solution between uses
•Sanitizing solutions are not at the required level to sanitize objects
What is TCS food? - ANSWER - food requiring time and temperature control to limit growth of pathogens
What foods are categorized as TCS food? - ANSWER - •milk and dairy products
•shell eggs (except those treated to eliminate nontyphoidal Salmonella)
•Meat: beaf, pork, and lamb
•poultry
•fish
•shellfish and crustaceans
•baked potatoes
•heat-treated plant food, such as cooked rice, beans, and vegetables
•tofu or other soy protein
pg. 4
