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A Food Safety News report published October 9 outlines precautions for food and kitchen items exposed to hurricane-related flooding or extended power outages. It advises discarding potentially contaminated items, avoiding food tasting as a safety test, and cleaning or sanitizing certain dishes and metal utensils.
Food Safety News published hurricane recovery guidance on October 9, advising people to discard food that may have contacted floodwater and to throw away refrigerated and frozen food after power has been out for several days. The guidance matters because floodwater and prolonged outages can make food and food-contact items unsafe, even when damage is not obvious.
The report says never taste food to determine whether it is safe. If electricity has been out for several days, it advises discarding food in both the refrigerator and freezer. It refers readers to a food-safety chart for decisions after an extended outage, but the supplied report does not reproduce that chart or specify outage-temperature thresholds.
For water and beverages, the report advises drinking only bottled water or other drinks that have not contacted floodwater. It warns that screw caps are not waterproof and says to discard bottles or beverages that may have been exposed. When bottled water is unavailable, it directs readers to guidance on boiling or disinfecting water.
Food not held in a waterproof container should be discarded if floodwater may have reached it. The report says containers with screw caps, snap lids, pull tops or crimped caps do not count as waterproof. Undamaged commercially prepared foods in all-metal cans and retort pouches may be salvageable if cleaned according to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service’s severe-storm guidance.
Protecting Food and Kitchen Safety
These precautions address more than spoiled groceries: floodwater can contaminate food packaging, utensils and dishes, while loss of power can leave refrigerated or frozen food unsafe. Appearance and smell are not reliable safety tests, which is why the report explicitly warns against tasting food to decide whether to keep it.
Following the discard and cleaning advice can reduce the risk of consuming contaminated food or using contaminated items during recovery. The distinction between items that may be cleaned and those that should be discarded is practical for households deciding what can be safely reused after water recedes.
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Flooding and Outages After Hurricanes
The October 9 report frames its advice around two common hurricane-related hazards: flooding and prolonged power outages. It points readers to the FSIS Consumer’s Guide to Food Safety: Severe Storms and Hurricanes for further information, including a chart on food affected by a long outage.
Its recommendations distinguish between food in containers that can be cleaned under specified conditions and food or packaging that may have been exposed directly to floodwater. The report also separates washable metal and ceramic kitchenware from porous or plastic items it says should be discarded after contact with floodwater.
“Never taste a food to determine its safety.”
— Food Safety News report
Details That Depend on Exposure
The supplied report does not state how long a specific refrigerator or freezer can remain without power before each food must be discarded, nor does it provide the referenced food-disposal chart. It directs readers to that chart and to FSIS guidance for more specific decisions.
Whether a particular item is safe can depend on whether floodwater reached it, its packaging and the outage conditions. The report does not assess individual homes or products, so readers should not infer that an item is safe solely because its packaging looks intact. It also does not describe local water advisories or conditions in any particular storm-affected area.
Use USDA Guidance and Hotlines
People assessing food after an outage can consult the FSIS Consumer’s Guide to Food Safety: Severe Storms and Hurricanes, including its chart for food affected by a prolonged power outage. The report says questions can be directed to the Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time, in English or Spanish. It also lists MPHotline@usda.gov and live chat through Ask USDA.
For kitchen items that contacted floodwater, the report advises washing metal pans, utensils and ceramic dishes thoroughly with hot, soapy water, rinsing them, then sanitizing by boiling in clean water or immersing them for 15 minutes in a solution of one tablespoon of unscented liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water. It says to discard wooden cutting boards, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples and pacifiers that may have contacted floodwater.
Key Questions
Can I taste food to check whether it is safe after a power outage?
No. Food Safety News advises against tasting food to determine its safety. Follow the report’s discard guidance and consult the FSIS chart for food affected by a prolonged outage.
What should I do with food exposed to floodwater?
Discard food that is not in a waterproof container if floodwater may have reached it. The report says containers with screw caps, snap lids, pull tops and crimped caps are not waterproof.
Can any food containers be saved after flooding?
The report says undamaged, commercially prepared food in all-metal cans and retort pouches may be saved by following FSIS cleaning guidance. It does not say that all packages or cans are safe regardless of their condition.
How should I clean dishes and utensils exposed to floodwater?
Wash metal pans, utensils and ceramic dishes with hot, soapy water, rinse, then sanitize by boiling in clean water or immersing for 15 minutes in a solution of one tablespoon of unscented liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water. Discard wooden cutting boards, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples and pacifiers that may have contacted floodwater.
Where can I ask questions about food safety after a hurricane?
The report lists the Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time, in English or Spanish. It also provides MPHotline@usda.gov and Ask USDA live chat.
Source: rss
