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May 19, 2006
Power Outages -
Key Tips for Consumers About Food Safety
Be
Prepared:
- Have a refrigerator thermometer.
- Know where you can get dry ice.
- Keep on hand a few days worth of
ready-to-eat foods that do not require cooking or cooling, which depend on
electricity.
When
the Power Goes Out:
- Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors
closed as much as possible.
- The refrigerator will keep food cold
for about 4 hours if it is unopened.
- Refrigerators should be kept at 40° F
or below for proper food storage.
Once
the Power is Restored:
- Check the temperature inside of your refrigerator
and freezer.
- If an appliance thermometer was kept in
the freezer, check the temperature when the power comes back on. If the freezer
thermometer reads 40° F or below, the food is safe and may be refrozen.
- If a thermometer has not been kept in
the freezer, check each package of food to determine its safety. You can't rely
on appearance or odor. If the food still contains ice crystals or is 40° F
or below, it is safe to refreeze or cook.
- Refrigerated food should be safe as
long as the power was out for no more than 4 hours. Keep the door closed as
much as possible.
- Discard any perishable food (such as
meat, poultry, fish, eggs or leftovers) that has been above 40° F for two
hours or more.
For more information see: www.FoodSafety.gov -
Consumer Advice: Disaster Assistance
For more hurricane assistance, see
Health and Safety Before and After a Storm (FDA) and
Disasters &
Emergencies: Hurricanes (HHS).