Which action is required immediately when a boil water order is issued for a retail facility?

• A. Discard all food prepped prior to order
• B. Resume operations using bottled water only
• C. Reheat all foods to 165°F
• D. Sanitize any equipment connected to the water supply

Answer: (A)

When a boil water order is in effect, the water supply is considered unsafe for any food preparation. The most important immediate action in a retail setting is to discard foods that were prepared with that water before the order began. This prevents serving items that could have been contaminated by the water, which is the primary risk during a boil order.

Other steps, like reheating foods to 165°F or sanitizing equipment connected to the water supply, are important parts of the overall response but do not replace the need to remove potentially contaminated foods from service right away. Once the order is lifted and the water is deemed safe, you would switch to safe water (often bottled), discard ice made with the affected water, and thoroughly clean and sanitize as needed.