What is the purpose of labeling items with dates in FIFO?

• A. To identify the newest inventory for rotation.
• B. To identify the oldest inventory and ensure proper rotation.
• C. To track vendor contact.
• D. To track color codes.

Answer: (B)

Labeling items with dates supports FIFO by making the age of each item clear, so staff can rotate stock properly and use the oldest items first. When you can see when a batch was received, you pull those older items for prep and service, which helps prevent spoilage, maintain freshness, and reduce waste. Using the newest stock instead would defeat rotation and could lead to waste or quality issues. Date labeling isn’t about tracking vendor contacts or color codes—those are different tasks and don’t drive rotation.