Power outages can create significant challenges, especially regarding food safety and hygiene. San Bernardino County Public Health urges residents to prevent illness during and after power disruptions. From understanding which foods to discard to safely cleaning and sanitizing refrigerators, these guidelines will help you protect your health and ensure your household remains safe during an outage. Read on for detailed tips on monitoring food safety, disposing of spoiled items, and using clean water effectively.
Food Safety During a Power Outage
- Refrigerated Food Safety:
- During a power outage, food in refrigerators can become hazardous if not properly stored.
- Any food that has been above 41°F for more than two hours should be discarded to prevent illness.
- How to Determine if Food is Safe to Eat:
- Monitor the refrigerator temperature to ensure it stays 41°F or below.
- If the power outage lasts less than two hours, keep refrigerator doors closed to maintain cold temperatures.
What Foods Should Be Discarded?
- Perishable Foods:
- Discard meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers if they have been above 41°F for two hours or more.
- Signs of Spoilage:
- Food with unusual odors, colors, or textures should not be consumed.
- When in doubt, throw it out.
- Frozen Foods:
- If frozen food has thawed completely, discard it.
- Food with ice crystals or that still feels refrigerator-cold can be refrozen.
Proper Food Disposal
- Place all food in heavy-duty trash bags for disposal.
- Do not open packages of discarded food, as this can increase the risk of illness.
- Use disposable gloves when handling discarded food.
- Wear a face mask and goggles (if available) to protect against odors and potential splashes.
- Wash your hands thoroughly after removing gloves.
Using Safe Water
- Boiled Water Instructions:
- If under a boil water order, boil water to a rolling boil for at least one minute.
- At high elevations (above 6,500 feet), increase boiling time to three minutes.
- Boil water before washing your hands or using it to prepare food.
Cleaning and Sanitizing Refrigerators and Freezers
- Bleach Solution:
- Use unscented household bleach (not bleach with special properties for washing clothes).
- Mix two capfuls of bleach per gallon of water. Follow instructions on the bleach container for accuracy.
- Ammonia Solution:
- Use an ammonia solution with at least 200 ppm concentration.
- Do not mix bleach and ammonia. Only use one solution at a time.
- Avoid using caustic agents, such as lye, for cleaning.
Contact Information
For further assistance or inquiries:
- Call 1-800-442-2283
- Visit EHS.SBCounty.gov
By following these guidelines, you can reduce health risks and ensure safety during power outages.