What is the best way to handle food that has exceeded its safety time?

When food has exceeded its safety time, the correct course of action is to discard it. This approach is essential for maintaining food safety standards and ensuring the health of customers and staff. Food that has surpassed its designated time for safe consumption can harbor harmful bacteria, toxins, or other pathogens that could lead to foodborne illnesses.

Discarding the food eliminates the risk of serving potentially unsafe items to customers. It demonstrates a commitment to food safety practices, which is critical in a restaurant environment like Five Guys, where the health and safety of patrons are of utmost importance.

In contrast, refrigerating the food immediately or cooking it quickly may not adequately address the potential hazards that arise once food has surpassed its safety time. Utilizing the food for staff meals might pose the same health risks as serving it to customers, as staff members also deserve safe food options. Thus, discarding the food is the only viable option to ensure safety and quality in the restaurant.