When storing raw food in a refrigerator, ground beef must be stored above which of the following?

Ground beef must be stored above poultry in a refrigerator to prevent cross-contamination. Poultry, such as chicken or turkey, can harbor harmful bacteria like Salmonella and Campylobacter, which can transfer to other foods if they drip or leak. By placing ground beef above poultry, you minimize the risk of juices from the raw poultry contaminating the ground beef.

The placement of other food items, like lettuce, fish, and pork chops, is also important for food safety, but poultry is particularly critical because of its higher risk for contamination with pathogens that can cause foodborne illness. Meat and seafood can also carry risks, but when it comes to the hierarchy of storage in terms of safety, poultry is considered more hazardous. Therefore, proper storage guidelines dictate keeping ground beef above poultry for safe refrigeration practices.