Food Safety During Power Outages

With the recent storms that have absolutely ravaged the Southern United States its so important to remember food safety during power outages. Food spoilage happens a lot faster than some people realize and the last thing anyone needs is to get a foodborne illness on top of being in the dark and potentially surrounded by massive amounts of water without the ability to seek medical attention.

Here are some things we know about food safety during power outages:

How long does food last in a refrigerator after a power outage?

• Food is considered safe to keep for four hours after a power outage in a properly working refrigerator with the door kept shut as much as possible.

What about the freezer?

• A full freezer will hold its temperature for 48 hours and a half-full freezer will hold its temperature for 24 hours with the doors closed as much as possible.

What to do during a power outage to minimize food loss:

• Freeze refrigerated items that are not needed immediately to keep them at a safe temperature longer.
• Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed to maintain the cold temperatures.

What to do when the power is back on:

• Check the temperature inside the refrigerator and freezer and make sure it is 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
• If the temperature in the freezer reads 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below, or the food still contains ice crystals, the food is safe and may be refrozen.
• Throw out any perishable food in your refrigerator, such as meat, poultry, lunch meats, fish, dairy products, eggs and any prepared or cooked foods that have been above 40 degrees Fahrenheit for four hours or more.
• Fresh fruits and vegetables are safe as long as they are still firm and have no evidence of mold or sliminess.
• Never taste food to determine if it is safe to eat.
• And most importantly, “When in doubt, throw it out!”

How to prepare for the next power outage:

• Make sure there are appliance thermometers in the refrigerator and freezer.
• Have coolers on hand to keep essential items cold if the power will be out for more than four hours.
• Freeze containers of water and gel packs to help keep the food at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
• Other advice includes having about three days of non-perishable food on hand in case of an emergency, refilling medications before the bottle is empty and making sure to have working flashlights in the home.

 

What are the Symptoms?

Sickness from eating contaminated food can appear within as fast as 20 minutes but can take up to 1-2 days. Symptoms can include:  vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain – and flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache, and body ache.

Although most healthy people will recover from a foodborne illness within a short period of time, some can develop chronic, severe, or even life-threatening health problems. In addition, some people are at a higher risk for developing foodborne illness, including pregnant women, young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems (such as transplant patients and individuals with HIV/AIDS, cancer, or diabetes).

 

Please know that those affected by the recent storms are in the thoughts of those of us here at Make Food Safe and we hope that safe to consume resources are making their way to you and your loved ones.