Released January 30, 2009
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Arkansans who are among the nearly 300,000 customers who lost electricity during this week's ice storm need to take extra care with their food supply until the power returns, the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service said Thursday.
The storm was being blamed for at least 17 deaths, including four in Arkansas.
The safety of perishables in the refrigerator is critical, or Arkansans risk compounding power outage problems with food-borne illness.
"The first rule is never taste a food to determine its safety," Denise Brochetti, assistant professor in nutrition with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service, said. "When in doubt about whether or not a food is safe to eat, throw it out!"
While some may be tempted to take food from the refrigerator or freezer and store it outside in the cold, that's not a practice Brochetti recommends.
"Properly stored food should be at zero degrees or below in the freezer and 40 degrees or below in the refrigerator," she said. "It's not cold enough outside and even if the temperature is below freezing, that doesn't last long in Arkansas," she said. Temperatures in northern Arkansas, one of the hardest hit areas, are expected to rise into the 40s and 50s over the next 48 hours.
"Outside, food is vulnerable to wild and domestic animals," Brochetti said. "Plus, dirt and microbes that aren't typically found in the refrigerator can contaminate food stored outside."
Brochetti offers these guidelines to preserve what's in the fridge or determine whether what's in the fridge can be eaten, refrozen or needs to be thrown out:
- Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to maintain the cold.
- Push food close together in both the refrigerator and freezer to help maintain the cold.
- The refrigerator will keep food safely cold for about four hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will hold the temperature for approximately 48 hours, or 24 hours if it is half-full and the door stays closed.
- Food may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is at least 40 degrees or below.
- Obtain block ice or dry ice if possible to keep your refrigerator and freezer as cold as possible if the power is going to be out for a prolonged period of time. Fifty pounds of dry ice should hold an 18-cubic foot full freezer for two days.
- If the power has been out for several days, check the temperature of the freezer with an appliance or food thermometer. If the food still contains ice crystals or is at 40 degrees or below, the food is safe.
- If a thermometer has not been kept in the freezer, then check each package of food to determine its safety. If the food still contains ice crystals, it's safe.
- Discard any perishables, such as meat, poultry, fish, soft cheeses, milk, eggs, leftovers, and deli items after four hours without power.
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http://www.uaex.edu/news/january2009/0130soyseed_quality.htm
Contact: Lamar James, (501) 671-2187, ljames@uaex.edu
