{"id":366,"date":"2024-12-17T10:27:03","date_gmt":"2024-12-17T15:27:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodsafety-draft\/?page_id=366"},"modified":"2025-01-28T13:46:25","modified_gmt":"2025-01-28T18:46:25","slug":"homefoodsafety","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodsafety\/homefoodsafety\/","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"<section class=\"cl-wrapper cl-hero-wrapper\"><div class=\"cl-hero fullwidth   cl-has-accessibility-controls\"><div class=\"cl-hero-proper\"><div class=\"overlay\"><div class=\"block\"><h1>Food Safety at Home<\/h1><p>Tips and resources on safe food handling, storage, and preparation to help reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses and create a safer kitchen<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"still\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodsafety\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2234\/vegetables-9132663_1920-1.jpg);\"><\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-controls-container\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-controls\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-icon\" title=\"Accessibility controls\">Accessibility controls<\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control cl-accessibility-motion-control cl-accessibility-control-hidden\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-default\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-button\" title=\"Pause motion\">Pause motion<\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-label\">Motion: <span class=\"cl-accessibility-syntax\">On<\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-alternate\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-button\" title=\"Play motion\">Play motion<\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-label\">Motion: <span class=\"cl-accessibility-syntax\">Off<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control cl-accessibility-contrast-control\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-default\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-button\" title=\"Increase text contrast\">Increase text contrast<\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-label\">Contrast: <span class=\"cl-accessibility-syntax\">Standard<\/span><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-alternate\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-button\" title=\"Reset text contrast\">Reset text contrast<\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-control-label\">Contrast: <span class=\"cl-accessibility-syntax\">High<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-system-setting\"><div class=\"cl-accessibility-toggle\" title=\"Apply my preferences site-wide\"><\/div><div class=\"cl-accessibility-toggle-label\">Apply site-wide<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n<p class=\"fullwidth\">According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, it is estimated that each year 48 million people get sick from a foodborne illness, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die. Following these <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/food-safety\/prevention\/index.html\">four simple steps<\/a> at home can help protect you and your family from food poisoning. <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default , fullwidth\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"805\" height=\"350\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodsafety\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2234\/331933A4StepsBanner805x35001.jpeg\" alt=\"4 Steps to Food Safety. Clean, Seperate, Cook and Chill\" class=\"wp-image-384\" srcset=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodsafety\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2234\/331933A4StepsBanner805x35001.jpeg 805w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodsafety\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2234\/331933A4StepsBanner805x35001-300x130.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodsafety\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2234\/331933A4StepsBanner805x35001-768x334.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodsafety\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2234\/331933A4StepsBanner805x35001-364x158.jpeg 364w, https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodsafety\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2234\/331933A4StepsBanner805x35001-500x217.jpeg 500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 805px) 100vw, 805px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Power Outage and Food Safety<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"fullwidth\">During emergencies or disasters, it\u2019s important to protect yourself from foodborne illnesses. Perishable foods may become unsafe if power outages occur, and any food that comes into contact with floodwater or stormwater could also pose a risk.  Ensuring food safety during and after a power outage is crucial to prevent foodborne illnesses. Here are key guidelines to follow:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Before a Power Outage:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Prepare Your Appliances:<\/strong> Ensure your refrigerator is set at or below 40\u00b0F (4\u00b0C) and your freezer at 0\u00b0F (-18\u00b0C) or lower.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Freeze Water Containers:<\/strong> Place containers of water in your freezer to create ice, which can help keep food cold during a power outage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>During a Power Outage:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Keep Doors Closed:<\/strong> Avoid opening the refrigerator and freezer doors to maintain the cold temperature. An unopened refrigerator will keep food safe for about 4 hours, while a full freezer will maintain its temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if half full).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>After Power is Restored:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Check Temperatures:<\/strong> Use a food thermometer to check the temperature of perishable items. Discard any perishable food (such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and leftovers) that has been above 40\u00b0F (4\u00b0C) for more than 2 hours.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Assess Frozen Foods:<\/strong> If the freezer thermometer reads 40\u00b0F (4\u00b0C) or below, the food is safe and can be refrozen. If you don&#8217;t have a thermometer, check each package; if the food still contains ice crystals or is at 40\u00b0F (4\u00b0C) or below, it is safe to refreeze or cook.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>When in Doubt, Throw It Out:<\/strong> If you&#8217;re uncertain about the safety of any food item, it&#8217;s best to discard it to prevent potential foodborne illness.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"fullwidth\">Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/food-safety\/foods\/keep-food-safe-after-emergency.html?CDC_AAref_Val=https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/foodsafety\/food-safety-during-a-power-outage.html\">comprehensive guidelines<\/a> on food safety during emergencies:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"fullwidth\">By following these steps, you can help ensure that your food remains safe to consume after a power outage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns fullwidth is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"cl-wrapper cl-card-wrapper\"><a class=\"cl-card  \" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodsafety\/preserving\/\" title=\"\"><div class=\"cl-card-container media\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodsafety\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2234\/jam-428094_640-1.jpg\" srcset=\"\" alt=\"\"><\/div><div class=\"cl-card-container text\"><div class=\"cl-card-text\"><h2>Home Food Preservation<\/h2><p>Workshop information and resources on safe food preservation methods, including canning, freezing, and dehydrating. Learn about best practices, safety tips, and detailed instructions to preserve food at home while maintaining its quality and preventing contamination.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cl-card-container button\">Explore<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"cl-wrapper cl-card-wrapper\"><a class=\"cl-card  \" href=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodsafety\/gardening\/\" title=\"\"><div class=\"cl-card-container media\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodsafety\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2234\/child-7338083_1280-e1734450077973.jpg\" srcset=\"\" alt=\"\"><\/div><div class=\"cl-card-container text\"><div class=\"cl-card-text\"><h2>Home, School and Community Gardeners<\/h2><p>Essential resources on safe gardening practices for homeowners, schools and community gardens. Learn how to grow fresh, healthy produce while ensuring food safety from planting to harvest.<\/p><\/div><\/div><div class=\"cl-card-container button\">Explore<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, it is estimated that each year 48 million people get sick from a foodborne illness, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die. Following these four simple steps at home can help protect you and your family from food poisoning. Power Outage and Food Safety During emergencies or [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5144,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-366","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodsafety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/366","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodsafety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodsafety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodsafety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5144"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodsafety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=366"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodsafety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/366\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":478,"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodsafety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/366\/revisions\/478"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.uri.edu\/foodsafety\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=366"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}