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Extended power outage can have a negative impact on food stored in refrigerators and freezers
Tue July 12, 2011
DUPAGE COUNTY--As a result of the severe weather that moved through our region Monday, many DuPage County residents are still without power, and could be without power for a number of days. As a result, the DuPage County Health Department is providing residents with some tips on what to do with food in their refrigerators and freezers that is being affected by this outage.
If the power is out for longer than two hours, residents should follow these guidelines from the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- For the freezer section: A freezer that is half full will hold food safely for up to 24 hours. A full freezer will hold food safely for 48 hours. Do not open the freezer door if you can avoid it. Be cautious of food that may have thawed and become refrozen once power is restored.
- For the refrigerated section: Pack milk, other dairy products, meat, fish, eggs, gravy, and spoilable leftovers into a cooler surrounded by ice. Inexpensive Styrofoam coolers are fine for this purpose.
- Use a food thermometer to check the temperature of your food right after power has been restored. Throw away any food that has a temperature of more than 41 degrees Fahrenheit.
For more information on the DuPage County Health Department, follow us on Twitter @DuPageHD or become a fan on Facebook.
Click here to print a copy of this press release:
Extended power outage can have a negative impact on food stored in refrigerators and freezers