Following extended power outages that affected Erie County residents and businesses, the Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) is offering advice and recommendations about handling perishable foods that may have spoiled. This guidance is for restaurants and other food facilities, but is useful for residents as well.
Spoiled foods can cause severe illness if consumed. Please also refer to food safety guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (https://www.cdc.gov/
Extended Power Outages and Perishable Food Storage
Refrigerators/Walk-in Coolers:
- Refrigeration units (regardless of make) will not reliably maintain refrigeration temperatures (<45⁰F) for longer than 4 hours without continuous electric service.
- All potentially hazardous food (PHF)* in these units MUST BE DISCARDED if the electric service was interrupted for 4 continuous hours or longer.
Freezers (including walk-in units):
- Fully stocked freezers (especially chest and walk-in styles) may maintain temperatures <32⁰F for up to 48 hours without continuous electric service. Partially/Half-stocked freezers may maintain temperatures <32⁰F for up to 24 hours.
- All PHF in these units must be carefully evaluated with a probe-style food thermometer for proper temperature maintenance before use. PHF found to be partially frozen (exhibiting ice-crystals) may be re-frozen. Thawed PHF found to be <45⁰F may be used or treated as a refrigerated product and maintained at <45⁰F, and must be used as soon as possible. Thawed PHF foods found to be >45⁰F MUST BE DISCARDED.
If Flooding/Water Back-up Occurs:
- Discard all foods (not just PHF) and packaging materials that have been submerged in water, unless the food is sealed in a hermetically sealed can that has not been damaged. This includes DISCARDING:
- Products in containers with screw-caps, snap-lids, crimped-caps (i.e. beer/soda bottles), twist-caps, flip-tops, snap-open, similar type closures that have been submerged in water.
- Refrigerated and frozen foods which have been submerged in water, except for retort pouches (i.e. vacuum packed pouches)-contact this Department for the requirements necessary to salvage these items.
- Products packed in plastic, paper, cardboard, cloth, and similar containers that have been submerged in water.
Summary:
- Discard all PHF that have been in the “Danger Zone” (between 45⁰F and 140⁰F) for 4 hours or more
- Do not re-freeze thawed food
- Discard foods and other products submerged in flood/back-up waters
- When in Doubt, Throw it Out!
- You cannot rely solely on appearance or odor to determine if a food will make someone sick
- The risk of Food Poisoning (and the associated liability) is never worth the cost of the food!
*Potentially Hazardous Food is any food that consists in whole or in part of milk or milk products, eggs, meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, edible crustacean, cooked potato, cooked rice or other ingredients, including synthetic ingredients, in a form capable of supporting: (1) rapid and progressive growth of infectious, or toxigenic microorganisms; or (2) the slower growth of C. Botulinum.
Checklist for Re-Opening the Establishment
Hot and cold potable water available under pressure
All hand-washing and toilet facilities are fully operational
Electric and gas service operational
Refrigeration and freezer units are fully operational and holding temperature
Hot holding units fully operational
Proper cleaning and sanitizing facilities operational
Adequate and approved lighting operational
All PHF which has been out of temperature for 4 or more hours has been discarded
Frozen foods thawed due to power outage not re-frozen
All food contact equipment that was submerged in water has been cleaned and sanitized
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR ADVICE, CONTACT ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
(716) 961-6800
