What does the term "FIFO" stand for in food service?

The term "FIFO" stands for "First In, First Out," which is a crucial inventory management principle in food service. This method ensures that the oldest stock is used or sold first before newer stock is utilized. Implementing FIFO helps to minimize food waste by ensuring that perishable items are used while they are still fresh, thus prolonging the overall quality of food served and maintaining safety standards.

Using FIFO effectively manages storage and rotation, helping food service operations comply with health regulations and maintain inventory accuracy. This practice is particularly important in preventing the spoilage of perishable goods, maintaining customer satisfaction with fresh food, and managing costs by reducing waste.

Other options, while they contain food-related phrases, do not accurately represent the accepted inventory management practice used within the food service industry. They focus on attributes or ideas that are not standardized terms in food management.