Food poisoning dangers are real after severe weather. Here's how to protect yourself
Hurricanes and other natural disasters often create a cascade of unexpected complications, including extended power and water outages, flooding, mold damage and other emergencies. Now add the increased danger of food poisoning to that list.
There is the possibility for a rise in foodborne illnesses like salmonella and E. coli after natural disasters, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, when power outages affect cold storage.
If your household has recently been hit by a power outage, here are ways to keep your food safe:
Keep your fridge door shut
Under normal circumstances, your fridge should be kept at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below and your freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or below, according to the CDC. When the power goes out, it’s a race against time to make sure food doesn’t spoil.
“Bacteria multiply quickly between temperatures of 40 degrees Fahrenheit and 140 degrees Fahrenheit,” CNN wellness expert Dr. Leana Wen told CNN. “Refrigerators can generally keep food cold if it’s been under four hours and the door was not opened.”
To make sure you’re getting the right temperature, purchase a food thermometer, the CDC suggests.
Freezers can buy you more time
Food stored in a freezer at 0 degrees Fahrenheit is safe to re-freeze or cook as long as it doesn’t rise above that crucial 40-degree mark, according to the CDC.
Once the power is cut, a full freezer can hold a safe temperature for 48 hours with the door closed. But, if it’s half full, that time could be cut to 24 hours – again, only if the door remains closed. That’s why experts suggest keeping any fridge activity to a minimum.
Some people may turn to throwing things in the freezer to buy more time. Bill Marler, a food safety attorney in Seattle, said there are some things to take into account.
“If you do this, you’re essentially adding warmer food into a cold environment, just like if you put hot food in the refrigerator,” he told CNN. “It will raise the temperature of the whole freezer and lower the amount of time things can stay safe.”
As to know when all is lost, the CDC and other food experts abide by a simple saying: “When in doubt, throw it out.”
A refrigerator is pictured in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Steinhatchee, Florida. (Octavio Jones / Reuters via CNN Newsource)
Some foods carry different risks
Pre-packaged foods and ready-to-eat foods can be a particular problem when considering food safety.
“Things like improperly stored deli meals, cold cuts, hot dogs and even some types of soft cheeses can be linked to listeria,” Marler said. “Vegetables and fruits can be a little easier, because they tell you when they’re not good to eat. But with some pre-made foods, it can be harder to tell.”
He advised people to avoid cross-contamination that could complicate a post-power outage fridge purge.
“Don’t let the juice from hot dogs contaminate other foods, and store meats — even cooked meats — separately from fruits and vegetables and the like.”
Keeping foods separate from each other is a practice that should start at the grocery store, according to the CDC. They should also be kept in separate areas of the refrigerator any day of the week, regardless of the weather.
Cooked doesn’t mean safe
While items like milk and raw meat are the first things to consider when purging a too-warm fridge, Wen said it’s important not to overlook cooked items.
“Cooked food should not be left out at room temperature for more than two hours. Leftovers that cannot be kept at 40 degrees F or lower should be thrown out,” she said.
The CDC also has a helpful chart of how long foods can stay fresh in a functioning fridge, whether opened or unopened.
People with pre-existing conditions should be more careful
The effects of foodborne illnesses can range from mild discomfort to life-threatening complications. People with pre-existing conditions can be more at-risk for serious illness, the CDC said.
“It varies by the type of contamination, but pregnant women, the very young and the very old, and people with compromised immune systems are more at risk for contracting serious diseases, like listeria, that can occur with improper food handling or storage,” Marler said.
If you are in one of these high-risk groups, the CDC recommends paying special attention to food safety procedures when buying, preparing, cooking and storing your food.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Five years after toddler's brutal death, Northern Ont. family struggles to find peace, justice
A North Bay family is struggling to find peace and justice as the five-year anniversary of the brutal death of toddler Oliver McCarthy approaches.
Alberta RCMP officer charged with 2 counts of sexual assault
Const. Bridget Morla, a Leduc RCMP officer, has been charged with two counts of sexual assault in connection with an incident that happened two years ago.
Ontario dad removes hockey rink at heart of neighbour dispute
A Markham dad who drew the ire of neighbours and the city after installing a hockey rink in his backyard says the rink has now been taken down.
Kingston, Ont. doctor in 'disbelief' after being ordered to repay $600K for pandemic vaccination payments
An Ontario health tribunal has ordered a Kingston, Ont. doctor to repay over $600,000 to the Ontario government for improperly billing thousands of COVID-19 vaccinations at the height of the pandemic.
Canadian among three climbers missing on New Zealand's highest peak
A Canadian is among three climbers missing after they'd planned to climb New Zealand's highest peak.
Motivated by obsession: Canadians accused in botched California murder plot in police custody
Two Canadians are in police custody in Monterey County, California, after a triple stabbing police say was motivated by a B.C. man's obsession with a woman he played video games with online.
Trump demands immediate release of Oct. 7 hostages, says otherwise there will be 'HELL TO PAY'
President-elect Donald Trump is demanding the immediate release of the Israeli hostages still being held in Gaza, saying that if they are not freed before he is sworn into office there will be “HELL TO PAY."
Belly fat linked to signs of Alzheimer’s 20 years before symptoms begin, study says
As the size of a person’s belly grows, the memory centre of their brain shrinks and beta amyloid and tau may appear — all of this occurring as early as a person’s 40s and 50s, well before any cognitive decline is apparent, according to new research.
More RCMP and CBSA ‘human resources’ destined for border, Public Safety Minister LeBlanc says
Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc says the federal government will 'absolutely' be adding more Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) and RCMP ‘human resources’ at the border.
Local Spotlight
Winnipeg city councillor a seven-time provincial arm wrestling champ
A Winnipeg city councillor doesn’t just have a strong grip on municipal politics.
Watch: Noisy throng of sea lions frolic near Jericho Beach
A large swarm of California sea lions have converged in the waters near Vancouver’s Jericho and Locarno beaches.
Auburn Bay residents brave the cold to hold Parade of Lights
It was pretty cold Saturday night, but the hearts of those in a southeast Calgary neighbourhood warmed right up during a big annual celebration.
Three million grams of cereal collected to feed students in annual Cereal Box Challenge
The food collected will help support 33 breakfast and snack programs in the Greater Essex County District School Board.
Regina's LED volume wall leaving Sask. months after opening
Less than a year after an LED volume wall was introduced to the film world in Saskatchewan, the equipment is making its exit from the province.
Temperature records broken, tied following latest snowfall in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan received yet more snow as winter continues to ramp up on the prairies. With the increased precipitation, communities have recorded dipping temperatures – with a handful breaking or tying longstanding records.
'My dear Carmel': Lost letters returned to 103-year-old Guelph, Ont. woman
A young history buff was able to reunite a Guelph, Ont. woman with letters written by her husband almost 80 years ago.
'We have to do something': Homeless advocates in Moncton reaching out for help over holidays
Twice a week, Joanne and Jeff Jonah fill up their vehicle full of snacks and sandwiches and deliver them to the homeless in downtown Moncton, N.B.
100-year-old Winnipeg man walks blocks to see his wife
It's considered lucky to live to be 100, but often when you hit that milestone, you're faced with significant mobility issues. Not Winnipeg's Jack Mudry. The centenarian regularly walks five blocks to get where he wants to go, the care home where his wife Stella lives.