Hurricane Katrina Recovery Guidance

In the aftermath of the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, FDA has issued guidance designed to help consumers and industry with safe food handling, seafood safety and availability, and disposal of contaminated food.

• FDA has determined that certain foods exposed to flood waters and perishable foods that are not adequately refrigerated are adulterated and should not enter the human food supply. In addition, crops and other food commodities exposed to flood waters from Hurricane Katrina would not be acceptable for use in animal feed. FDA is also providing guidance in determining when food products can be reconditioned for future use. For more information, see A Notice from the FDA to Growers, Food Manufacturers, Food Warehouse Managers, and Transporters of Food Products About Safety of Food Affected by Hurricane.
• FDA is working with industry to ensure that the seafood that is currently offered for sale in local markets is safe. With the extensive flooding, power outages, and damage to buildings, consumers and those in the food industry may have concerns about the safety of food, especially the Gulf Coast's seafood products, exposed to hurricane damage. Although the damage by Hurricane Katrina is extensive, industry, states, and federal food safety officials have well established systems and methods to produce safe food and ensure seafood safety. For more information, see Seafood Availability and Safety.
• Many acres of grain and vegetable crops, and many food manufacturing facilities, food warehouses, and food transporters were flooded or lost power as a result of Hurricane Katrina, so FDA is providing important tips on how to properly dispose of contaminated or spoiled food. For more information, see A Notice from the FDA to Growers, Food Manufacturers, Food Warehouse Managers, and Transporters of Food Products On How to Dispose of Contaminated or Spoiled Food.

In addition to these sites, FDA's web site (http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/) contains other useful information for consumers and industry who have been affected by Hurricane Katrina.