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Keep Food Cold, Or Throw Away, If Power Is Out
Making the right decisions about storing perishable foods during a power outage can keep your family safe, minimize the potential loss of food, and reduce the risk of foodborne illness. That's according Michele Fishburn, Director of Community Health Improvement for the Knox County Health Department.

She says when the power goes out, a full freezer will hold the correct temperature for almost 48 hours as long as the freezer door remains closed. That time would be half as much for a freezer that was half full of food. She says food in the refrigerator can stay cold from four to six hours depending on how warm your home gets.

Fishburn tells WGIL temperatures of your food are the main concern. "Any foods that are in your refrigerator for longer than 24 hours, or if they're above 41-degrees, you should dispose of them," Fishburn said. "The key there is, 'are they over the temperature of 41-degrees?' If you have any questions about any, you should be throwing them out. It's better than risking getting sick."

Fishburn says alternatives include adding a block of ice to the refrigerator if the electricity is off for longer than four to six hours, using dry ice to freeze items, or splitting up your food and using someone's fridge.

Fishburn says the Knox County Health Department had already received many calls from residents asking how long the foods stay fresh and at what point do they need to throw out the food.
06 19 09 by Newsroom
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