Table B is used when a food is: -not heat-treated, or -is heat-treated but not packaged •Food that is not heat-treated may contain vegetative cells. •Food that is heat-treated but not package may become re-contaminated with vegetative cells. •pH values must go as low as 4.2 because Staphylococcus aureus can grow at that level. • A food that because of its Aw or pH value, or interaction of Aw and pH value is designated as non-TCS in the interaction table. • A food with an Aw value of less than 0.88 or a pH level of less than 4.2 if NOT heat-treated or NOT packaged
PA also means Product Assessment Required. TCS means time/temperature control for safety food. NON-TCS foods is a food which will not support the growth of disease-causing bacteria.