Texas Food Managers Certification Practice Exam

When a chef tastes food by using their finger, it raises concerns about food safety and the potential for contamination. The best action for a food manager is to discard the mashed potatoes. This approach helps ensure that no harmful bacteria or pathogens could be introduced into the food due to improper tasting methods.

By throwing out the potatoes, the food manager is prioritizing the health and safety of customers, which is crucial in any food service environment. This action helps to eliminate the risk of cross-contamination, as direct contact with fingers can lead to the transfer of bacteria from the chef to the food.

Other options might not effectively address the underlying issue of food safety. Simply telling the chef that the potatoes will be discarded if it happens again does not immediately solve the potential risk posed by the already tainted food. Ignoring the incident because mashed potatoes are not considered a risk does not take into account that any food can become unsafe if not handled properly. Reheating the potatoes could kill some bacteria but might not eliminate all risks associated with potential contamination already present from the initial tasting method. Therefore, discarding the potatoes is the safest and most responsible course of action.