Which practice is essential for ensuring food safety during storage?

Labeling and dating food items is essential for ensuring food safety during storage. This practice helps in keeping track of when food items were prepared or opened, which is crucial for monitoring their freshness and preventing foodborne illnesses. By labeling and dating, food handlers can easily identify items that may be nearing their expiration or best-by dates, allowing them to rotate stock effectively and utilize older items first. This process minimizes the risk of food spoilage and waste, and helps in maintaining overall food safety standards in a food service operation.