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Power Failure/Food Safety

Heavy rain can mean a disruption in electrical and gas service and the availability of potable water. When power goes off in the refrigerator, you can normally expect food inside to stay safely cold for 4 to 6 hours, depending on how warm your kitchen is. Here are some additional guidelines:

• Add a block of ice to the refrigerator if the electricity is off longer than 4-6 hours. As this ice melts, the water may saturate food packages. Keep packages out of the water as it drains.
  
• High protein foods (dairy products, meat, fish, and poultry) should be consumed as soon as possible if power is not restored immediately. They cannot be stored safely at room temperature.
  
• Fruits and vegetables can be kept safely at room temperature until there are obvious signs of spoilage.
  
• A fully stocked freezer will keep food frozen 2 days if the door remains closed. A half-full freezer can keep foods frozen about one day.
  
• If you are purchasing perishable foods from a market in an area that has been affected by power outages, make sure that the cold foods have been kept below 45 degrees F. and that hot foods have been kept above 140 degrees F.

Generally, do not eat any food that has come in contact with floodwater, especially root and garden vegetables. Citrus fruits should be washed well, sanitized in a chlorine solution and peeled before eating. Apples and other fruits should also be cooked before eating. Carefully examine all canned and bottled goods, these are usually not affected but should be washed thoroughly with approved drinking water and a mild disinfecting solution and rinsed prior to opening and use. Canned or powdered milk may be substituted for fresh milk.

Board of Health contact:

781-270-1955

Nurses contact:

781-270-1957

Hours:
Monday-Friday
8:30AM-4:30PM

BOH Home Page