Ensuring food and water safety during and after a power outage

Huron Perth, ON – Power outages continue to affect residents and businesses throughout Huron and Perth following storms on Wednesday, Sept. 2. Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH) reminds everyone to take precautions to prevent food and waterborne illnesses.

When electricity is interrupted, refrigerators and freezers that store food, as well as equipment like water pumps and treatment systems for private wells, can fail.

“Power outages can increase the risk of foodborne illness if refrigerated and frozen foods are not kept at safe temperatures,” said Dale Lyttle, senior public health inspector at HPPH. “Knowing which foods are safe to keep, and which should be thrown out can help protect you and your family.”

Businesses without adequate backup power for refrigeration, ventilation, private well water treatment systems, sewage pumps, or other essential equipment must remain closed until power is restored and safe operations can resume. HPPH public health inspectors are available to answer questions and support operators with safe reopening.

Food safety tips for individuals and businesses

• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. An unopened refrigerator will keep food cold (at or below 4 C) for about four hours.
• A full freezer can maintain freezing temperatures (at or below -18 C) for about 48 hours if the door remains closed. A half-full freezer will keep food frozen for about 24 hours.
• Use a thermometer, if available, to check food temperatures.
• Discard perishable foods such as meat, poultry, fish, seafood, eggs, milk and other dairy products, leftovers, and cut fruits and vegetables if they have been above 4 C for two hours or more.
• Never taste food to determine if it is safe.
• Frozen foods that still contain ice crystals may be safely refrozen.
• Follow the rule: when in doubt, throw it out.

Water safety tips for individuals on private wells

• Use an alternate safe drinking water source, such as commercially bottled water, or boil water for at least one minute until treatment systems are working properly and water quality is verified.
• Once power is restored, run the water for about five minutes to flush the plumbing system. 
• Test well water as soon as possible after an outage. Testing kits are available at all HPPH offices.

For more information, visit Health Canada’s Food and drinking water safety in an emergency webpage or call Huron Perth Public Health at 1-888-221-2133, Ext. 3670 to speak with a public health inspector.