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    Floods and Food Safety

    Floods and Food Safety

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    • Do not eat any food that may have come into contact with flood water.
    • Discard any food without a waterproof container if there is any chance that it has come into contact
      with flood water.
    • Undamaged, commercially canned foods can be saved if you remove the can labels, thoroughly wash the cans, and then disinfect them with a solution consisting of one cup of bleach in 5 gallons of water.
    • Relabel your cans, including expiration date, with a marker.
    • Food containers with screw-caps, snap-lids, crimped caps (soda pop bottles), twist caps, flip tops,
      and home-canned foods should be discarded if they have come into contact with flood water because they cannot be disinfected.
    • For infants, use only pre-prepared canned baby formula that requires no added water, rather than powdered formulas prepared with treated water.

    Frozen and Refrigerated Foods

    • Thawed food can usually be eaten or refrozen if it is still “refrigerator cold,” or if it still contains ice crystals.
    • To be safe, remember, “When in doubt, throw it out.”
    • Discard any food that has been at room temperature for two hours or more, and any food that has an unusual odor, color, or texture.
    • Your refrigerator will keep foods cool for about 4 hours without power if it is unopened.