Final answer:
Cold ready-to-eat TCS food should not be held without temperature control for more than two hours, as this increases the risk of bacterial growth making the food unsafe to consume.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is about how long cold ready-to-eat Time/Temperature Control for Safety (TCS) food can be held without temperature control. According to safety guidelines, perishable foods that are left at a temperature between 4 and 60 degrees C (40 and 140 degrees F) for more than two hours should be discarded because of the rapid bacterial growth that occurs within that temperature range. It is therefore critical to make sure that cold TCS foods are not held at room temperature for longer than two hours. Refrigerated foods should be kept at or below 4 degrees C (40 degrees F) to inhibit bacterial growth. If there's a power outage, it's important to note that food is still safe to eat if the refrigerator temperature stays below 40 degrees F, but if it rises above that temperature for more than two hours, the safety of the food can be compromised.