Avoid Foodborne Illness During Temporary Power Outages According to Department of Energy data, a recent analysis found that weather-related power outages are up by 67 percent since 2000. Climate change and aging infrastructure are putting a heavy burden on our power grid and the communities they serve. As temperatures rise this summer, so will the consumption of electricity. This may cause some power grids to experience blackouts, an unexpected loss of power lasting minutes, hours or days. Electricity providers will either ask customers to voluntarily conserve energy at home or they will schedule a reduced flow of electricity — a brownout — to certain areas of the grid to prevent a complete blackout. If your home experiences a temporary power outage, here are some key reminders to keep your food out of the Danger Zone: - Monitor Temperatures: Keep an appliance thermometer in both the refrigerator and freezer. Make sure the refrigerator temperature is at 40 F or below and the freezer is at 0 F or below.
- 4-Hour Window: Your refrigerator will keep food safe for up to 4 hours during a power outage. After 4 hours without power, discard refrigerated perishable food. Meat, poultry, fish, eggs and leftovers must be thrown out.
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