loader image
Thursday, February 13, 2025
50.7 F
McAllen
We Welcome your Press Release
- Advertisement -

Food Safety During a Power Outage

When in doubt, throw it out. A doctor tells us why it can be risky to eat perishable items after a power outage.

Translate to Spanish or other 102 languages!

Mega Doctor News

- Advertisement -

Cleveland Clinic – When the power goes out unexpectedly, you may be left with a fridge full of question marks.

Baruch Fertel, MD, an emergency medicine physician with Cleveland Clinic, said during a power outage it’s important to make sure perishable items are safe to eat.

“Once the temperatures are not at the appropriate cold level, it provides an ideal medium for viruses, for bacteria, to replicate and then one can get a foodborne illness, sometimes called a diarrheal illness and could get very sick,” he explained.

- Advertisement -

So, what’s okay to keep and what should be tossed?

According to the FDA, food is safe in a closed refrigerator for about four hours.

Food can also be kept safely up to 24 hours in a half-full freezer, and for 48 hours in a full freezer – provided it hasn’t been opened.

Items are safe to re-freeze if they have icicles or are 40 degrees or less.

- Advertisement -

However, Dr. Fertel said if there’s any doubt – throw it out.

“If it doesn’t look right, if it doesn’t smell right, don’t do it,” he advised. “Don’t eat it. Don’t take chances. Perishable items, things like meat, dairy products, cut up fruit, leftovers – if the power’s out, throw it out.”

Dr. Fertel adds that the very old and the very young are most at risk for complications from a diarrheal or foodborne illness.

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

- Advertisement -

More Articles

STHS Heart Shares Heart Healthy Tips in Commemoration of American Heart Month

Mega Doctor News Heart disease affects approximately 60% of U.S. adults, per the Centers for...

STHS Children’s Webinar to Educate Parents on Diabetes in Children, Feb. 19th

Mega Doctor News Being diagnosed with diabetes can happen at any age....

DHR Health Celebrates 100th Ion Robotic-Assisted Bronchoscopy

DHR Health, a leader in healthcare serving the Rio Grande Valley, announced today that Dr. Federico Vallejo, pulmonologist, has successfully performed his 100th Ion robotic-assisted bronchoscopy.

Dr. Francisco Sesatty, Physiatrist, Joins DHR Health to Restore Function & Quality of Life

Mega Doctor News EDINBURG, Texas - DHR Health, the leading healthcare system in...
- Advertisement -
×