Which item must always be stored above raw meats?

The correct answer is cooked meats, which must always be stored above raw meats to prevent cross-contamination. In a food storage context, it is essential to implement proper food safety practices to avoid the risk of pathogens from raw meats contaminating other food items. Raw meats can harbor harmful bacteria that can easily transfer to other foods if stored above them.

Cooked meats, on the other hand, have already been subjected to cooking processes that eliminate harmful bacteria, making them safer for consumption. Storing cooked meats above raw meats minimizes the risk of juices or drippings from the raw products contaminating the cooked items, thereby protecting public health and ensuring safe food handling practices.

This is in line with the principles of cross-contamination prevention and food safety regulations that emphasize proper food storage hierarchy, particularly in commercial kitchens.