When potentially hazardous foods are cooked, it is said that cooling from 60 to 21 C should happen in 2 hours and from 21 to 5 C in 4 hours, does this not contradict the 2/4 hour rule which states that if food is in temperature danger zone should be discarded if its more than 4 hours. Reference http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/consumer/safety/faqsafety/pages/foodsafetyfactsheets/foodsafetystandardst857.aspx
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3Where did you see these times, can you add some reference?– LucianoMar 26, 2018 at 8:32
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1The two hour rule widely quoted here is from the US FDA, unsurprisingly as many users are American. It's very cautious, as are some other FDA rules when compared to commonwealth countries. (This had the makings of an answer but I'm unlikely to have time to trawl through regulations. If you use it as a hint and write your own answer you'll get my upvote)– Chris HMar 28, 2018 at 6:40
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2 Answers
The reference that was posted is from an Australian agency, so there is your explanation - you are comparing different standards.
There is not some natural border between "safe" and "unsafe" foods. You can see "safe" as more of a certificate, like the CE certificates for electronics - it means that a regulation body has defined conditions under which the food is considered "good enough" for eating. What is "good enough" depends on their risk aversion, the mathematical model they use for bacterial growth, the history of food poisoning outbreaks in their country, and many other factors.
So it is perfectly normal to end up with different food safety rules around the world. Food which has been cooled by that rule will be safe by Australian standards and unsafe by FDA standards.
If you work at a food business, you have to follow the standards of your own country. If you are a home cook, you can choose for yourself which ones to follow, if any.
answered Mar 28, 2018 at 6:58
You are adding the 2 and 4. This is a wrong interpretation of the rule. The 4 is the MAX TOTAL time. Its 2 hours between 140F and 70F, then two more hours between 70F and 39F. Or no more than 4 total between 140F and 39F.
