depends on what kind of food..... some spoil dang quick. Maybe it would be safer to just put them in the fridge when they are a bit warm still and let them cool off and stay cold and not be on your mind or wrecking havoc with your guts.

I had a salad last week that the dressing must have been past prime and it shot through me at an utterly astonishing pace. (I"ll spare you the details, it's funny, now.....)

There are different kinds of food poisoning. Some will kill you.
Some won't. The feds put out info on food storage. I bet there is stuff online too. Be safe, if suspicious: toss.

Good Luck with educating hubby.