Keep Food Safe After Power Outage: CDC’s Guidelines for Food Storage and Consumption”

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According to the CDC, food that was in the refrigerated or freezer may not be safe to eat after a power outage. The CDC recommends that those facing outages keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed during the outage. According to the CDC, food in a refrigerator will stay safe for up to four hours, if the doors stay closed.

The CDC says food in a half-full freezer will stay safe for up to 48 hours in a full freezer and 24 hours in a half-full freezer if the doors stay closed. The CDC recommends putting refrigerated food in a cooler with ice packs after four hours, to keep them at 40°F or below.

What do I do when the power comes back on?
Once power has been restored, the CDC warns people to use caution eating foods that were stored during the outage. People are advised to throw away perishable foods in their refrigerators after four hours without power. People are also advised to check the temperatures of foods kept in the refrigerator.

How can I tell if my food has gone bad?
The CDC says any food that has reached temperatures above 40° should be thrown away. People should never taste food to determine if it is safe to eat. The CDC says if there is any doubt about the food’s freshness, then it should be thrown away.