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Practice and exam technique

Practice questions: receiving and storage

Compiled by the Sitonce editorial team from the FDA Food Code and the accredited providers listed belowUpdated 3 min readFacts verified 1 September 2026
The short answer

The flow of food is ten of the eighty questions, with receiving and storage the most reliably examined parts. These five cover acceptance temperatures, rejection criteria, tags and storage rules.

Receiving is the one stage where a problem can still leave the building. After the driver goes, it is yours.

Question 1

A delivery arrives with shell eggs at 45°F, sliced deli meat at 45°F, and frozen chips with large ice crystals in the case. What should be accepted?

  1. All three
  2. The eggs only
  3. The eggs and the deli meat
  4. The deli meat only
Answer: B. Shell eggs are received at 7°C (45°F) ambient air, so they are acceptable. Sliced deli meat is ready-to-eat and must be at 41°F. Large ice crystals mean the frozen product thawed and was refrozen. The question uses one real 45°F provision against one wrong application of it.
Question 2

Which can should be rejected?

  1. A dent in the body of the can, seams intact
  2. A small scratch in the label
  3. A can dented across the top seam
  4. A can with a faded label
Answer: C. A dent on a side or end seam compromises the seal, which is where the hermetic barrier is. A body dent that does not affect the seams or stacking is usually acceptable. Any swelling is an automatic rejection because gas indicates microbial growth.
Question 3

A container of live oysters is emptied on 12 June. When may the tag be discarded?

  1. Immediately
  2. 30 days later
  3. 90 days after 12 June
  4. At the end of the calendar year
Answer: C. Shellstock tags are marked with the date the last shellfish was served and kept for 90 days from that date. The tag is the only link between an illness reported later and the harvest area, which is why it outlives the shellfish by three months.
Question 4

In a dry storeroom, where should a case of degreaser be stored?

  1. On the top shelf, away from food
  2. On a shelf beside the flour, clearly labeled
  3. On a lower shelf, below and away from food
  4. Anywhere, provided the container is sealed
Answer: C. Poisonous or toxic materials go below and away from food, equipment and single-use articles. The rule is directional because a leak travels downward, so options A and B both fail even though both separate the chemical from the food.
Question 5

Two cases of the same product are in dry storage. Case A arrived last week with a use-by date of 20 August. Case B arrived yesterday with a use-by date of 5 August. Which should be used first?

  1. Case A, because it arrived first
  2. Case B, because its date is earlier
  3. Either, since both are within date
  4. Case A, and Case B should be returned
Answer: B. First in, first out orders by arrival, and a use-by date overrides it. The relevant control is the discard date, not the delivery order. This is the specific limit of FIFO, and the reason well-run kitchens converge on first expired, first out.

The habit worth building

For every receiving question, ask what the item is before you look at the number. Shell eggs, milk and shellfish have their own figures; everything else ready-to-eat is 41°F.

Common questions

What temperature are shell eggs received at?

7°C (45°F) ambient air. It is a narrow provision that applies to shell eggs specifically, and the exam offers it as a distractor when the answer for other cold food is 41°F.

Which dented cans should be rejected?

Any dent on a side or end seam, because that is where the seal is. Body dents that do not affect seams or stacking are usually acceptable, and any swelling is an automatic rejection.

How long are shellstock tags kept?

Ninety days from the date the last shellfish from that container was served. The tag is the only traceability link to the harvest area.

Where do chemicals go in dry storage?

Below and away from food, equipment and single-use articles. The rule has a direction because a leak travels downward, so a shelf at the same height does not satisfy it.

Does FIFO override a use-by date?

No, the other way round. FIFO orders by arrival; a use-by date is the actual control, which is why an older case with a later date is not used first.

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