Agriculture Secretary Encourages Residents to Take Food Safety Precautions During Flooding, Power Outages

​Harrisburg – Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding right now inspired farmers and consumers to take precautionary meals protectedty measures Adjust toing extreme flooding and power outages from the remnants of Tropical Melancholy Ida.

“When extreme climate hits, The very Very first factor We now Want to do is maintain our housemaintains protected,” said Secretary Redding. “An factor of maintaining is protected is recognizing how flooding and power outages influence meals. Water extreme quality and temperature administration Might be the distinction between consuming protected meals and meals that causes mealsborne sickness. Pennsylvanians Have to Adjust to primary meals protectedty Tips to Guarantee they maintain protected when extreme strikes.”

Redding provided The subsequent Tips To assist housemaintains reduce the potential for meals-borne sickness As a Outcome of of power outages or flooding:

All by way of flooding:

• Drink solely bottled water if flooding has occurred. Follow any boil-water advisories if issued by your native municipalities. 
• Utterly wash all metallic pans, ceramic dishes and utensils that Are out there contact with flood water with scorching soapy water and sanitize by boiling These factors in clear water, or by immersing them for Quarter-hour in An reply Of 1 teaspoon of chlorine bleach per quart of water.
• Merchandise are protected To make the most of In the event that they’ve not Are out there contact with flood water.

If gadgets have been submerged in floodwaters, discard:

• House-canned meals.
• All meals in cardboard bins, paper, foil, cellophane or supplies.
• Meat, poultry, eggs or fish.         
• Spices, seasonings, extracts, flour, sugar, grain, espresso and completely different staples in canisters.
• Unopened jars with waxed cardboard seals, Similar to mayonnaise and salad dressing. Additionally, throw away preserves sealed with paraffin.
• Discard Vegatables and fruits Which have not been harvested from gardens and have been submerged in flood waters.
• Picket slicing boards, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples and pacifiers.

If gadgets have been submerged in floodwaters, save:

• Commercially canned meals that acquired here into contact with flood water and have been correctly cleared by: labeling cans with the identify of meals in everlasting marker; eradicating labels; washing cans in water containing detergent; soaking cans for A minimal Of 1 minute in chlorine reply; rinsing in clear, cool water; placing on sides to dry (Do not stack cans).
• Dishes and glassware In the event that they’re sanitized by boiling in clear water or by immersing them for Quarter-hour in An reply Of 1 teaspoon of chlorine bleach per quart of water.
• When Not sure, throw it out.

All by way of power outages:

• Keep fridge and freezer doorways closed as a lot as potential To take care of chilly temperatures. Each time the door is opened, temperatures rise significantly.

• Fridges will maintain meals protectedly chilly for about 4 hours if unopened. A full freezer will maintain the temperature For about 48 hours (24 hours Whether or not It is half full and the door stays closed).

• Food Might Even be protectedly refrozen if it nonetheless incorporates ice crystals or is at 40 levels or under.

• By no means type meals To Search out out its protectedty.
• Use dry or block ice To maintain fridges and freezers as chilly as potential during prolonged power outages. Fifty kilos of dry ice ought to maintain an 18-cubic-foot, full freezer For two days.
• If The power has been out for a quantity of days, look at the temperature of the freezer with an equipment thermometer or meals thermometer. If the meals nonetheless incorporates ice crystals or is at 40 levels or under, the meals is protected.
• If a thermometer has not been stored Inside the freezer, look at each package deal of meals To Search out out its protectedty. If the meals nonetheless incorporates ice crystals, the meals is protected.
• Discard refrigerated perishable meals Similar to meat, poultry, fish, gentle cheeses, milk, eggs, leftovers and deli gadgets after 4 hours with out power.

Food companies experiencing flooding or power outages ought to contact their meals inspector for steerage or go to the Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Providers’ Emergency Response for Food Amenities webpage.

For extra information, contact the Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Providers at 1-866-366-3723 or go to agriculture.pa.gov.

For emergency preparedness information, go to www.readypa.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:    Shannon Powers, Agriculture, [email protected]    

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