NEHA Certified Food Manager Practice Exam 2026 – Complete Test Prep

When a food handler receives a delivery, it's essential to ensure that all items are stored at proper temperatures to maintain food safety. Meats should ideally be received at 41°F or lower to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. In this case, the meat is at 39°F, which is acceptable, so the handler should accept the meat.

On the other hand, lettuce and other leafy greens should also be ideally maintained at temperatures below 41°F, and finding lettuce at 49°F is a concern because it is above the safe temperature threshold. This raises the risk of bacterial growth which can lead to foodborne illnesses.

Thus, accepting the meat while rejecting the lettuce is the best action to take. This decision allows the handler to maintain food safety standards by preventing potentially unsafe food from being served, while the acceptable quality of the meat can be utilized.