9. What is the maximum amount of time food can be held in the danger zone? Why is this? (2 marks)

Food can be held in the danger zone (between 41°F and 135°F / 5°C and 57°C) for a **maximum of 4 hours**. Beyond this time, the rapid growth of bacteria makes the food unsafe to eat, even if it is reheated. This is because within this temperature range, bacteria can double in number every 20 minutes, leading to a potentially dangerous level of contamination.<br />