Food Safety During Power Outages
Key Points
- Have thermometers available for your refrigerator and freezer, so that temperatures can be monitored.
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Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature.
- The refrigerator can keep food cold for about 4 hours if unopened.
- A half full freezer can keep the temperature for approximately 24 hours if the door remains unopened.
- A full freezer will keep the temperature for approximately 48 hours if the door remains unopened.
- If a thermometer has not been kept in the refrigerator or freezer, check each food item with a thermometer to determine its safety. You can’t rely on appearance or odor.
Resources
Retail and Other Food Industry Resources
Emergency Action Plan for Retail Food Establishments (Emergency Action Plan Committee of Council; Conference of Food Protection)
Emergency Handbook for Food Managers (CDC)
Ensuring Food Safety During a Power Outage (Arlington County Health Department)- Resource for food establishments
Resource list- Food, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Information for Use Before and After a Disaster or Emergency (CDC): English and Spanish
Consumer Safety Resources
Food and Water Safety During Power Outages and Floods (FDA) - English, French, and Spanish
Food Safety After Power Outages (Washington State University)
Food Safety During Power Outage: Refrigerated Food and Power Outages: When to Save It and When to Throw It Out Table (foodsafety.gov)
Food Safety During Power Outages (Indiana State Department of Health)
Food Safety for Power Outages (CDC): Available in Arabic, English, French, Haitian Creole, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese
Resource list- Food, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Information for Use Before and After a Disaster or Emergency (CDC): English and Spanish
Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency (USDA)
Keep Your Food Safe During Emergencies: Power Outages, Floods, and Fires (USDA FSIS)
Play It Safe With Food After a Power Outage (Louisiana State University)
Power Outages: Keep Food Safe (University of Minnesota)
Power Outages: Key Tips for Consumers About Food Safety (FDA) - English and Spanish
Photo Credit: Pixabay, Pexels, 2016