In the event of a power failure, food in your refrigerator and freezer may be at risk. Follow these food safety tips to help keep your family food safe.
FOOD IN YOUR REFIRGERATOR
Hazardous foods include raw and cooked meats, poultry, fish and dairy products. Immediate use is recommended when hazardous foods reach 50°F (10° C) if this is not possible, these foods should be discarded as there could be either spoilage or dangerous changes in the food.
- If the door is kept closed, refrigerators will normally keep
foods cool for 4-6 hours. - Add bags of ice/ice packs to the refrigerator to help keep the food cooler for a longer period of time.
- Throw out any hazardous foods that have been above 4°C for more than two hours.
- When in Doubt, Throw it Out!
FOOD IN YOUR FREEZER
- If the door is kept closed, full freezer without power will normally keep food frozen for at least 48 hours.
- If the door is kept closed, half-full freezer without power will normally keep food frozen for 24 hours.
- Add bags of ice/ice packs to help keep the food cooler for a longer period of time.
- Re-freezing of partially thawed foods is safe provided that the food temperature has not exceeded 40° F (4° C).
When in Doubt, Throw it Out!
For a list of food items and how to handle them if the power goes out, check out the following link http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/pub/foodsafe/homefood.html