Power Out? FDA Offers Food Safety Tips

With DTE Energy extending its estimates for restoring power, food safety may become an issue for thousands of Farmington and Farmington Hills residents affected by Sunday's storm and high winds. 

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's "Food Facts" guide, keeping doors closed will keep refrigerated food cold for about four hours, and a full freezer will maintain its temperature for about 48 hours. Other tips offered at fda.gov include:

• Buy dry or block ice to keep the refrigerator as cold as possible if the power is going to be out for a prolonged period of time. Fifty pounds of dry ice should hold an 18-cubic foot fully-stocked freezer cold for two days.
• If you plan to eat refrigerated or frozen meat, poultry, fish or eggs while it is still at safe temperatures, it's important that each item is thoroughly cooked to the proper temperature to assure that any foodborne bacteria that may be present is destroyed. 
• If at any point food was above 40 °F for 2 hours or more, discard it.
• Wash fruits and vegetables with water from a safe source before eating.