Food Safety after a Hurricane

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After the recent hurricanes, many families are going to have to decide what foods they need to throw away because they are not safe to eat anymore. There are also need to be considerations for issues such as clean water and freezer/fridge temperatures. It is important to throw out anything that could be contaminated. If the food item came in contact with the flood water at all, it should be thrown out. This would include foods packed in plastic, paper, cardboard, cloth and similar containers. Any kind of product that has a screw-cap, snap lips, crimped caps, twist caps, flip tops and home canned foods should also be discarded.

Water is the most important area to be mindful of food safety. Use bottled water that has not been exposed to flood waters, boil water to make it safe, or disinfect the water with household bleach. Watch for contamination of local wells. Kitchen food contact surfaces and equipment need to be thoroughly disinfected or cleaned. Metal pans, ceramic dishes and utensils should be washed with soap and water and then sanitize by boiling in clean water. This is the same process that should be used for washing countertops, corners, cracks and crevices, door handles and door seals that have been affected by flood water. Wooden cutting boards, wooden dishes and utensils, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples and pacifiers should be discarded because they can not be safely cleaned.

Walfram,  T. (2017). Food safety in the home after a hurricane and flooding. Retrieved from http://www.eatright.org/resource/homefoodsafety/safety-tips/food-poisoning/food-safety-in-the-home-after-a-hurricane-and-flooding

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