Hurricane food safety 101 | Emergency Preparedness | Forums

good article on some best practices to keep your food safe during a crisis

As Hurricane Sandy hits the Mid Atlantic, causing widespread damage in the form of flooding and downed trees, it also poses an invisible threat in the form of food spoilage.

More than five million people have already lost power due to lines downed by the storm, and millions more are expected to be without electricity as Sandy continues its course. During a power outage, perishable food that is not kept at the proper temperature can spoil. Other foods risk contamination from flood waters seeping into containers.

Government food safety officials recommend a series of measures to prevent food spoilage or avoid eating spoiled food.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the federal Food and Drug Administration recommend taking the following precautions:

- Make ice cubes or freeze gel packs or containers of water so that you can keep food cold in the case of a power outage

- Group food together in the freezer to help it stay cooler longer

- Freeze refrigerated items you don’t need immediately, such as leftovers, fresh meat or milk

- Store food on high shelves or upper floors so that it will be out of the way of contaminated water should the house flood.

continued here

http://www.foodsafet.....afety-101/

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