Acidic foods must be prepared in approved containers and never stored in galvanized iron cans. True or false?

• A. True
• B. False; they can be stored in galvanized iron cans
• C. False; they must be refrigerated
• D. False; they should use non-approved containers

Answer: (A)

Acidic foods must be kept in containers that are approved for food contact and are non-reactive with acids. Acids can corrode metals like galvanized iron, causing metals (such as zinc) to leach into the food, which can give off flavors and raise safety concerns. Because of this, acidic foods should be prepared and stored in approved containers made of materials that won’t react with acids—such as stainless steel, glass, or enamel-coated surfaces. Galvanized iron cans are not suitable for storing acidic foods, so the statement is true. Refrigeration is not the core issue here; the important point is using safe, non-reactive, approved containers.