Deputy Chief Health Officer Dr. Lamont Sweet issued a notice today reminding Island residents to take necessary precautions during power outages to ensure food safety.
As a result of the snow storm earlier this week and scattered outages across the province, many Island residents are still without power. The power outage prompts questions on food safety and spoilage issues.
“It is important that Island residents know how long food will keep and how to prepare meals in order to avoid illness, especially during a power outage,” says Dr. Sweet.
Dr. Sweet reminds Islanders to adhere to the following guidelines:
Freezer and fridge:
• Try to keep your fridge or freezer closed as much as possible.
• Without power, a fridge should keep food cool for four to six hours.
• Without power, a full upright or chest freezer will keep food frozen for about two days.
• Discard any thawed food that has been at room temperature for two hours or more.
• If in doubt, throw it out. If it smells or looks bad, don’t use it.
• Remember that even if food looks edible, it could still be unsafe to eat.
The following are often the source of food-borne illness and should be discarded if stored at a temperature above four degrees Celsius (C) for two or more hours:
• raw or cooked meat, poultry, seafood and luncheon meats
• casseroles, stews or soups
• milk and soft cheeses
• homemade mayonnaise or dressings
• cooked pasta, potatoes or rice
• salads made with any of these foods
Foods that can be stored above four degrees C for several days include:
• butter and margarine
• hard or processed cheese
• fresh fruits and vegetables
• mustard, ketchup, olives
• salad dressings, peanut butter, barbeque sauce
• jam and jellies
Dr. Sweet reminds Island residents that a thermometer placed in your refrigerator or freezer will show you how cold the food has remained during the power outage and is one of the safest ways to determine if the food can be saved. Food-bourne illnesses and bacteria can develop in many household foods, when temperatures are above four degrees C.
For additional information on food safety, contact the Environmental Health Division at the Department of Health at 368-4970 or toll free at 1-800-958-6400.