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.
“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!