After the Storm: Refrigerator Advice
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Perry County Health Department director Jodi Shoen today told local residents to how to deal with refrigerated and frozen food after Tuesday's storm.
If the power is out for less than 2 hours, then the food in your refrigerator and freezer will be safe to consume. While the power is out, keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much a possible to keep food cold longer.
If the power is out for longer than 2 hours at your home, follow the guidelines below:
For the freezer section: A freezer that is half full will hold food safely for up to 24 hours. A full freezer will hold food safely for 48 hours. Do not open the freezer door if you can avoid it.
For the refrigerated section: Pack milk. other dairy products, meat, fish, eggs, gravy, and spoilage leftovers into a cooler surrounded by ice. Inexpensive styrofoam coolers are fine for this purpose.
Use a food thermometer to check the temperature of your food right before you cook or eat it. Throw away any food that has a temperature of more that 41 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you are a restaurant or retail food store owner/manager, before your store re-opens it is important that you take necessary precautions to keep your patrons safe and healthily.
Following are the steps needed to ensure safety and freshness of your products or services at your restaurant or retail store:
Cover open refrigerator and freezer cases.
Monitor and record temperatures of all units.
Any frozen or refrigerated potentially hazardous food products that reach 41degrees or more for more than 4 hours must be discarded.
If unsure how long products were at temperatures of 41 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, it should be destroyed.
Keep a log of all products you have destroyed.
Before your restaurant or retail store re-opens, make sure:
1. All potentially hazardous foods about 41 degrees have been discarded.
2. Electricity and gas service have been restored.
3. Circuit breakers have been reset.
4. All equipment and facilities are operating properly (lighting, refrigeration, hot holding, ventilation, toilets, etc.).
5. Hot and cold water pressure are adequate for hand washing and dish washing.
If your a retail food service establishment in Jackson County who has questions or if you need more information call (618) 684-3143, ext 128. If you are in Perry County call (618) 357-5371, ext 103. If you are in Franklin or Williamson Counties, call (618) 993-8111.