Editor’s note: The USDA posted this information Wednesday in anticipation of Hurricane Matthew. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service is issuing food safety recommendations for those who may be impacted by Hurricane Matthew. The National Hurricane Center expects that Category 3 Hurricane Matthew will affect Florida’s Atlantic coast Thursday evening and Friday. Based on latest forecast models, Matthew is also likely to impact the eastern United States as it moves up the East Coast this weekend. Significant flooding is possible from Georgia through Massachusetts, including South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Washington D.C., Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. According to the National Hurricane Center, some slight strengthening is forecast during the next couple of days.
Hurricanes present the possibility of power outages and flooding that can compromise the safety of stored food. Residents in the path of this storm should pay close attention to the forecast through the week. Be aware that flooding from heavy rain, damaging winds and storm surge is possible. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) recommends that consumers take the following steps to reduce food waste and the risk of foodborne illness during this and other severe weather events. Steps to follow in advance of losing power
- Keep appliance thermometers in both the refrigerator and the freezer to make sure that temperatures remain food-safe during a power outage. Safe temperatures are 40 degrees F or lower in the refrigerator and 0 degrees F or lower in the freezer.
- Freeze water in one-quart plastic storage bags or small containers prior to a storm. These containers are small enough to fit around the food in the refrigerator and freezer to help keep food cold. Remember, water expands when it freezes, so don’t overfill the containers.
- Freeze refrigerated items such as leftovers, milk and fresh meat and poultry that you may not need immediately. This helps keep them at a safe temperature longer.
- Know where you can get dry ice or block ice.
- Have coolers on hand to keep refrigerator food cold if the power will be out for more than four hours.
- Group foods together in the freezer. This “igloo” effect helps the food stay cold longer.
- Keep a few days’ worth of ready-to-eat foods that do not require cooking or cooling.
Steps to follow if the power goes out
- Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. A refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours if the door is kept closed. A full freezer will hold its temperature for about 48 hours (24 hours if half-full).
- Place meat and poultry to one side of the freezer or on a tray to prevent cross-contamination of thawing juices.
- Use dry or block ice to keep the refrigerator as cold as possible during an extended power outage. Fifty pounds of dry ice should keep a fully-stocked 18-cubic-feet freezer cold for two days.
Steps to follow after a weather emergency
- Check the temperature inside of your refrigerator and freezer. Discard any perishable food such as meat, poultry, seafood, eggs or leftovers that has been above 40 degrees F for two hours or more.
- Check each item separately. Throw out any food that has an unusual odor, color or texture, or feels warm to the touch.
- Check frozen food for ice crystals. The food in your freezer that partially or completely thawed may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is 40 degrees F or below.
- Never taste a food to decide if it’s safe.
- When in doubt, throw it out.
Food safety after a flood
- Do not eat any food that may have come into contact with flood water. This includes raw fruits and vegetables, cartons of milk, or eggs.
- Discard any food that is not in a waterproof container if there is any chance that it has come into contact with flood water. Food containers that are not waterproof include those packaged in plastic wrap or cardboard, or those with screw‐caps, snap lids, pull tops, and crimped caps. Flood waters can enter into any of these containers and contaminate the food inside. Also, discard cardboard juice/milk/baby formula boxes and home-canned foods if they have come in contact with flood water because they cannot be effectively cleaned and sanitized.
- Inspect canned foods and discard any food in damaged cans. Can damage is shown by swelling, leakage, punctures, holes, fractures, extensive deep rusting, or crushing/denting severe enough to prevent normal stacking or opening with a manual, wheel‐type can opener.
Refrigerated perishable foods If your refrigerator measures more than 40 degrees F for more than two hours as a result of a power outage, discard the following: • Raw or leftover cooked meat, poultry, fish, or seafood; soy meat substitutes • Thawing meat or poultry • Salads: Meat, tuna, shrimp, chicken, or egg salad • Gravy, stuffing, broth • Lunchmeats, hot dogs, bacon, sausage, dried beef • Pizza with any topping • Canned hams labeled “Keep Refrigerated” • Canned meats and fish, opened • Casseroles, soups, stews • Soft cheeses: blue/bleu, Roquefort, Brie, Camembert, cottage, cream, Edam, Monterey Jack, ricotta, mozzarella, Muenster, Neufchatel, queso blanco, queso fresco • Shredded cheeses • Low-fat cheeses • Milk, cream, sour cream, buttermilk, evaporated milk, yogurt, eggnog, soy milk • Baby formula, opened • Fresh eggs, hard-cooked in shell, egg dishes, egg products • Custards and puddings, quiche • Fresh fruits, cut • Opened mayonnaise, tartar sauce, horseradish (discard if above 50 degrees F , or 10 degrees C, for more than eight hours) • Fish sauces, oyster sauce • Opened creamy-based dressings • Spaghetti sauce, opened jar • Refrigerator biscuits, rolls, cookie dough • Cooked pasta, rice, potatoes • Pasta salads with mayonnaise or vinaigrette • Fresh pasta • Cheesecake • Pastries, cream-filled • Pies — custard, cheese-filled or chiffon; quiche • Vegetables: Greens, pre-cut, pre-washed, packaged • Vegetables, cooked; tofu • Vegetable juice, opened • Baked potatoes • Commercial garlic in oil • Potato salad • Casseroles, soups, stews FSIS will provide relevant food safety information as the storm progresses on Twitter via @USDAFoodSafety and on Facebook at Facebook.com/FoodSafety.gov. An FSIS YouTube video, “Food Safety During Power Outages,” has instructions for keeping frozen and refrigerated food safe. The publication entitled, “A Consumer’s Guide to Food Safety: Severe Storms and Hurricanes,” can be downloaded and printed for reference during a power outage. FSIS also has an infographic covering what to do before, during and after a power outage. If you have questions about food safety during severe weather, or about any other food safety topics, call the USDA Meat & Poultry Hotline at 1-888MPHotline, or chat live with a food safety specialist at AskKaren.gov. These services are available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, in English and Spanish. Answers to frequently asked question can also be found 24/7 at AskKaren.gov.
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