Be safe when you are dealing with food after a flood. Remember: If in doubt, throw it out.
Food to throw out
You
must throw out the following foods if they had contact with flood water:
- meat, fresh fruits, and vegetables
- boxed foods, such as cereal and crackers
- food in jars and bottles, such as homemade jam and pickles, juice boxes, and bottled pop
Food in jars and bottles may still not be safe, because the area under the seal can’t be disinfected properly.
Food to keep
Food in sealed metal cans is the only food that is safe to keep after contact with flood water.
The cans must have labels you can read and be undamaged. Throw out any damaged or dented cans.
Before you open a can, clean the outside with warm water, soap, and a firm brush. Rinse the can and dry it so it doesn’t rust.
Food in the refrigerator and freezer
Most refrigerators can keep food at 4ºC for about 4 hours without power. If the power is off for less than 4 hours, the food inside a refrigerator is safe to eat.
Throw out the food in the refrigerator or freezer if:
- The power was off for longer than 4 hours.
- The temperature inside the refrigerator or freezer went above 4oC for any amount of time.
- You don’t know how long the power was off.
Throw the food out even if it is still cold, seems to be re-freezing, or didn’t have contact with flood water.
