Food Safety and Inspection Service
United States Department of Agriculture
Washington, D.C. 20250-3700

News Release

Susan Conley 202-368-6157
Bessie Berry 202-746-7218

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USDA CONSUMER ALERT
Keeping Food Safe During An Emergency

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 2003 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing recommendations in advance of the upcoming hurricane in an effort to help minimize the potential for foodborne illness.

Steps to follow to prepare for a possible weather emergency:

Keep an appliance thermometer in the refrigerator and freezer. An appliance thermometer will indicate the temperature in the refrigerator and freezer in case of a power outage and help determine the safety of the food.
Make sure the freezer is at or below 0˚ F and the refrigerator is at or below 40˚ F.
Freeze containers of water for ice to help keep food cold in the freezer, refrigerator or coolers after the power is out.
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.
Plan ahead and know where dry ice and block ice can be purchased.
Store food on shelves that will be safely out of the way of contaminated water in case of flooding.
Have coolers on hand to keep refrigerator food cold if the power will be out for more than four hours. Purchase or make ice cubes and store in the freezer for use in the refrigerator or in a cooler. Freeze gel packs ahead of time for use in coolers.
Group food together in the freezer – this helps the food stay cold longer.

Steps to follow after the weather emergency:

Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold temperature.
The refrigerator will keep food safely cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full and the door remains closed.)
Food may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at 40˚ F or below.
Never taste a food to determine its safety!
Obtain dry or block ice to keep your refrigerator and freezer as cold as possible if the power is going to be out for a prolonged period of time. Fifty pounds of dry ice should hold an 18-cubic-foot full freezer for 2 days.
If the power has been out for several days, check the temperature of the freezer with an appliance thermometer or food thermometer. If the food still contains ice crystals or is at 40˚ F or below, the food is safe.
If a thermometer has not been kept in the freezer, check each package of food to determine its safety. If the food still contains ice crystals, the food is safe.
Discard refrigerated perishable food such as meat, poultry, fish, soft cheeses, milk, eggs, leftovers and deli items after 4 hours without power.
Drink only bottled water if flooding has occurred.
Discard all food that came in contact with flood waters including canned goods. Discard wooden cutting boards, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples and pacifiers.
Thoroughly wash all metal pans, ceramic dishes and utensils that came in contact with flood water with hot soapy water and sanitize by boiling them in clean water or by immersing them for 15 minutes in a solution of 1 teaspoon of chlorine bleach per quart of water.
When in Doubt, Throw it Out!

For additional information on food safety during an emergency, call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854); for the hearing-impaired (TTY) 1-800-256-7072.

The Hotline is staffed by food safety experts weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time. Food safety recordings can be heard 24 hours a day using a touch-tone phone. The media may contact the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at (301) 504-6258. Information is also available from the FSIS Web site: http://www.fsis.usda.gov

Note to EditorS:

A radio interview on Keeping Food Safe During an Emergency and Power Outage has been recorded with Dr. Elsa Murano, Under Secretary for Food Safety, and is available for radio stations to download and air. The interview can be found at the USDA Web site at: www.fsis.usda.gov

Links to Radio Interview - Real Audio, MP3, and WAV Formats

For Further Information, Contact:
FSIS Congressional and Public Affairs Staff
Phone: (202) 720-9113
Fax: (202) 690-0460

News and Information Page | FSIS Home Page | USDA Home Page

News Release

USDA CONSUMER ALERT Keeping Food Safe During An Emergency

Links to Radio Interview - Real Audio, MP3, and WAV Formats

FOOD SAFETY REMINDERS FOR WEATHER EMERGENCIES

ACTUALITY: NEEDS DURING A WEATHER EMERGENCY

ACTUALITY: MEAT AND POULTRY HOTLINE

USDA CONSUMER ALERT
Keeping Food Safe During An Emergency