This news article provides guidance on food safety practices during power outages common in Australian summers. It outlines recommendations from food safety experts on handling potentially hazardous foods and emphasizes the importance of safe storage temperatures.
Power outages have become a recurring issue during Australian summers, often leaving residents grappling with the dilemma of food safety when their refrigerators fail. Experts in food safety recommend discarding foods that have been stored at temperatures above five degrees Celsius for more than four hours.
Lydia Buchtmann, the chief executive of the Food Safety Information Council, advises caution when it comes to preserving potentially hazardous foods like meat, poultry, seafood, and ready-to-eat perishable meals during outages. 'They should be placed in alternative cold storage, for example, coolers or eskies with ice or ice bricks,' she said. Foods stored between five and 60 degrees Celsius for less than two hours should be immediately refrigerated or consumed. Dips, pate, and ham are particularly susceptible to contamination, while salted butter, margarine, and hard cheeses generally remain safe at room temperature. Unforeseen power outages, such as those triggered by severe weather, often leave limited time for safe food storage. However, there are measures to mitigate the risks. A well-sealed freezer can maintain frozen foods for one to two and a half days during an outage. Vulnerable groups, including young children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing medical conditions, are at a higher risk of foodborne illness. When in doubt, err on the side of caution and discard food that has been exposed to unsafe temperatures for an extended period
POWER OUTAGES FOOD SAFETY REFRIGERATOR TEMPERATURE AUSTRALIA
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