Food Safety and Natural Food Safety and Natural DisastersDisasters

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The ABCD’s of Food SafetyThe ABCD’s of Food Safety(in an Emergency)(in an Emergency)

AAlways keep meat, poultry, fish lways keep meat, poultry, fish and eggs refrigerated at or below and eggs refrigerated at or below 4040°F and frozen food at or below °F and frozen food at or below 0°.0°.

Keep the refrigerator and freezer Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as doors closed as much as possible.possible.

BBe prepared for an emergency by e prepared for an emergency by having items on hand that don’t having items on hand that don’t require refrigeration and can be require refrigeration and can be eaten cold or at room temperature.eaten cold or at room temperature.

Shelf-stable food, boxed or canned milk, water, Shelf-stable food, boxed or canned milk, water, and canned goods should be part of a and canned goods should be part of a

planned emergency food supply.planned emergency food supply.

CConsider what you can do onsider what you can do ahead of time to store your ahead of time to store your food safely in an emergency. food safely in an emergency.

When planning, consider the type of disaster When planning, consider the type of disaster that you are planning for: flood, tornado, that you are planning for: flood, tornado,

weather-related.weather-related.

DDigital, dial or instant-read igital, dial or instant-read thermometers and appliance thermometers and appliance thermometers will help you thermometers will help you know if the food is at safe know if the food is at safe temperatures. temperatures.

Keep appliance thermometers in the Keep appliance thermometers in the

refrigerator and freezer at all times.refrigerator and freezer at all times.

Power Outage: Foods of Power Outage: Foods of ConcernConcern

• Greatest concern:Greatest concern: meat; fish; poultry; meat; fish; poultry; dairy products; eggs and egg products; dairy products; eggs and egg products; cooked items: beans, rice, potatoes, cooked items: beans, rice, potatoes, pasta; potato/pasta/macaroni salads; and pasta; potato/pasta/macaroni salads; and custards and puddingscustards and puddings

• Foods that may loose quality:Foods that may loose quality: salad salad dressings, mayonnaise, butter and dressings, mayonnaise, butter and margarine, produce, hard cheesesmargarine, produce, hard cheeses

• Foods that will be safe:Foods that will be safe: carbonated carbonated beverages, unopened bottled juices, beverages, unopened bottled juices, ketchup, mustard, relishes, jams, peanut ketchup, mustard, relishes, jams, peanut butter, barbecue saucebutter, barbecue sauce

Power Outage: Save or Power Outage: Save or Discard?Discard?

• Potentially hazardous food may be kept as Potentially hazardous food may be kept as long as it doesn’t warm up above 40° F. long as it doesn’t warm up above 40° F.

• Frozen foods which are still frozen or are Frozen foods which are still frozen or are thawed but are still cold, or have ice thawed but are still cold, or have ice crystals, may be used or refrozen. crystals, may be used or refrozen.

• If potentially hazardous foods are thawed If potentially hazardous foods are thawed and warmer than 40° F you should discard and warmer than 40° F you should discard them. Do not refreeze! them. Do not refreeze!

When in doubt, throw it out.When in doubt, throw it out.

Safe Drinking WaterSafe Drinking Water

• Power outages may affect water Power outages may affect water purification systems so have bottled purification systems so have bottled water on hand.water on hand.

• Water can be purified by boiling (3 Water can be purified by boiling (3 minutes) or by adding bleach.minutes) or by adding bleach.

• Water purification tablets can be Water purification tablets can be purchased from local pharmacies.purchased from local pharmacies.

Food Safety and FloodsFood Safety and Floods• Discard all food that comes in Discard all food that comes in

contact with flood waters.contact with flood waters.

• Discard wooden cutting boards, Discard wooden cutting boards, plastic utensils and storage plastic utensils and storage containers.containers.

• Thoroughly wash and sanitize metal Thoroughly wash and sanitize metal pans, ceramic dishes, and utensils.pans, ceramic dishes, and utensils.

Food Safety and FiresFood Safety and Fires

• Discard food that has been near a fire, Discard food that has been near a fire, including food in cans and jars.including food in cans and jars.

• Discard any raw (uncooked) food and food Discard any raw (uncooked) food and food in permeable packaging- cardboard, plastic in permeable packaging- cardboard, plastic wrap, plastic bottles. wrap, plastic bottles.

• Discard food exposed to fire-fighting Discard food exposed to fire-fighting chemicals.chemicals.

• Wash and sanitize all cookware exposed to Wash and sanitize all cookware exposed to fire-fighting chemicals. fire-fighting chemicals.

Food Safety and TornadoesFood Safety and Tornadoes

• Discard food packages that have been Discard food packages that have been damaged by debris.damaged by debris.

• Discard any food that may be unsafe Discard any food that may be unsafe due to a power outage. due to a power outage.

• Wash and sanitize all food packages Wash and sanitize all food packages and cookware exposed to the and cookware exposed to the environment because of structural environment because of structural damage.damage.

Food Safety and Winter Food Safety and Winter StormsStorms

• Power outages are often a concern.Power outages are often a concern.

• Don’t store refrigerated/frozen food Don’t store refrigerated/frozen food outside.outside.

• Take advantage of the cold by Take advantage of the cold by making ice.making ice.

How Can You Tell? How Can You Tell? You can’t necessarily tell…that’s the You can’t necessarily tell…that’s the

problem.problem.• Don’t rely on appearance or odor. Don’t rely on appearance or odor. • Never taste food to determine its Never taste food to determine its

safety. safety. • Use a thermometer to check the Use a thermometer to check the

temperature of food if the power has temperature of food if the power has been out. been out.

When the Power ReturnsWhen the Power Returns… or the Disaster is Past… or the Disaster is Past

• Evaluate all food products. Evaluate all food products.

• Clean surfaces if necessary. Clean surfaces if necessary. • Discard all items that may be Discard all items that may be

unsafeunsafe..

Thank you!!Thank you!!