Foody Safety: KDHE recommends the following to protect against potential foodborne illness due to loss of electrical power that keeps foods refrigerated:

• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
• Refrigerators will keep food cold for about 4-6 hours if unopened.
• Refrigerated foods should be kept at 40F or below whenever possible.

When Power is Restored:

• If an appliance thermometer was kept in the unit, check the temperature when the power comes back on. If the thermometer reads 40F or below, the food is safe and may be kept refrigerated. It is safe to refreeze the food, but the quality and flavor of the food may be affected.
• If a thermometer has not been kept in the unit, check each package of food to determine its safety. You can't rely on appearance or odor. If the food still contains ice crystals or is 40F or below, it is safe to refreeze or cook and use.
• Refrigerated food should be safe as long as the power was out for no more than 4-6 hours. Keep the door closed as much as possible.
• Discard any perishable food (such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs or leftovers) that has been above 40F for two hours or more.
• Remember: When in doubt, throw it out!

Boil Water Advisory: KDHE recommends the following when fresh water is not available:

• Boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation, or use bottled water.
• Dispose of ice cubes and do not use ice from a household automatic icemaker.
• Disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water that contains one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.
• If your tap water appears dirty, flush the water lines by letting the water run until it clears.

For more information please see the KDHE website at www.kdheks.gov

This information was provided by KDHE.