Quiz Show - TCS (temperature controlled for safety) or Shelf Stable? Buttercream Frosting

The term 'TCS' is often used to refer to food that either requires temperature or time control for food safety and 7 day date marking. So let the games begin and test your knowledge.

A chocolate cupcake with buttercream frosting.

Answer:

This buttercream frosting was lab tested and did require refrigeration. There is always confusion when a lot of sugar is added to a product because sugar has the ability to inhibit microbial growth. Sugar basically dries out the food and with a low water activity level, it becomes shelf-stable. The recipe at this facility used showed there was still enough water in the frosting from the butter that could support microbial growth and required it to be treated as a TCS food. They have the cupcakes on a 4-hour time as control for public health agreement.