AAA Food Handler Practice Exam 2026 – Complete Exam Prep Guide

When storing raw ground beef and raw salmon in the refrigerator, it is essential to consider food safety and the prevention of cross-contamination. The recommendation is to store the salmon above the ground beef.

This approach is correct because raw fish, such as salmon, can potentially contain bacteria that could drip onto other foods. Therefore, it’s crucial to place raw fish higher in the refrigerator to prevent juices from the fish from contaminating the ground beef. If the salmon is stored above the ground beef, any potential drips will fall onto the ground beef, which could lead to foodborne illness.

Storing the salmon above the ground beef thus helps maintain a safe environment in the refrigerator, ensuring that the more perishable item does not contaminate another item that is often cooked to a lower internal temperature. The safe practice of storing these items in this manner aligns with food safety guidelines to reduce the risk of foodborne pathogens.