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Public Service Announcement Teaches Consumers How To Keep Food Safe During Power Outages
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Susan Conley (301) 344-4755
Matt Baun (301) 344-4743
WASHINGTON, October 26, 2006 - USDA's Food Safety
and Inspection Service (FSIS) has released and posted on its Web site
a Public Service Announcement
(PSA) to help consumers keep food safe during bad weather. "Food
Safety During Power Outages," is part of ongoing outreach efforts
to raise awareness about the importance of food safety during times
of power outages due to storms and other events.
The PSA, available in 30- and 60-second versions, illustrates practical
food safety recommendations for handling and consuming foods stored
in refrigerators and freezers during, and after, a power outage. Consumers
are encouraged to view the PSA at FSIS' Web site https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081106093434/http://www.fsis.usda.gov/news/Food_Safety_Videos/.
"Power outages can occur at any time of the year and it
often takes from a few hours to several days for electricity to be
restored to residential areas," said USDA Under Secretary for
Food Safety Dr. Richard Raymond. "Foods stored in freezers and
refrigerators can become unsafe in just a few hours if bacteria begin
to grow and if these foods are consumed, people can become very sick."
Raymond noted that the information in the PSA can be used year-round
in every geographic region of the country because it focuses any weather
event that could lead to power outages.
"The information in the PSA is invaluable for consumers
affected by snow and ice storms, tornadoes, thunder storms, flooding,
tropical storms, heat waves and anything else that leads to a power
loss," said Raymond.
USDA is distributing the PSA to television and radio stations and
is encouraging them to use it before and during weather-related emergencies
and other events that cause power outages. To further ensure these
critical food safety messages reach consumers, USDA is also encouraging
power and energy companies to post the PSA on their Web sites or as
part of recorded telephone messages for their customers.
News organizations and power companies can obtain hard copy (Beta
and DVD) versions of the PSA by contacting the Food Safety Education
Staff in FSIS' Office of Public Affairs Education and Outreach by
calling (301) 344-4743.
USDA offers the following recommendations for maintaining food safety
while the power is out.
Food Safety and Power Outages
- Never taste a food to determine its safety!
- Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible
to maintain the cold temperatures. Each time the door is opened,
a significant amount of cold air is lost.
- The refrigerator will keep food cold safely for about four hours
if it is unopened. A full freezer will hold the temperature for
approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full and the door
remains closed.)
- Food may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals
or is at 40° F or below.
- Obtain dry or block ice to keep your refrigerator and freezer
as cold as possible if the power is going to be out for a prolonged
period of time. Fifty pounds of dry ice should hold an 18-cubic-foot
full freezer for two days.
- If the power has been out for several days then check the temperature
of the freezer with an appliance thermometer or food thermometer.
If the food still contains ice crystals or is at 40° F or below
then the food is safe.
- If a thermometer has not been kept in the freezer then check
each package of food to determine its safety. If the food still
contains ice crystals then the food is safe.
- Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry,
fish, soft cheeses, milk, eggs, leftovers and deli items after
four hours without power.
- When in Doubt, Throw it Out!
Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the
FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at www.askkaren.gov.
The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854)
is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m.
to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety
messages are available 24 hours a day. |
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Last Modified:
October 26, 2006 |
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