New York City Food Protection Practice Test

To prepare a 50 PPM chlorine-based sanitizing solution, how much bleach is required?

1. 1 ounce of bleach

2. 1/2 ounce of bleach

3. 2 ounces of bleach

4. 3 ounces of bleach

The correct answer is: 1/2 ounce of bleach

To prepare a 50 PPM (parts per million) chlorine-based sanitizing solution, it is essential to understand the appropriate concentration and dilution of bleach. The correct choice, which indicates using 1/2 ounce of bleach, is based on the standard guideline for achieving a 50 PPM concentration. In practice, a typical dilution ratio often used for preparing a sanitizing solution from bleach is 1 tablespoon (which is equivalent to about 0.5 ounces) of bleach per 1 gallon of water, yielding a concentration of approximately 50 PPM. This dilution is effective for sanitizing surfaces to reduce the risk of foodborne illness, as chlorine is a potent sanitizer. Using too much bleach would create a solution that is stronger than necessary, which could lead to harmful effects on food contact surfaces or the inability to achieve the desired sanitizing effect due to the presence of excess chemicals. Hence, the quantity of 1/2 ounce aligns perfectly with the standard recommendations for creating a safe and effective sanitizing solution.