03/10/2026
⚡ Power Outage Food Safety Tips ⚡
When the lights go out, keeping your food safe is a must! Plan for power outages to keep your food fresh and prevent illness:
🍎 For Households:
Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible.
A full freezer can keep food frozen for up to 48 hours; a half-full freezer for 24 hours.
Throw out perishable foods that have been above 41°F for more than 4 hours.
When in doubt, throw it out – safety first!
🍽 For Restaurants & Food Businesses:
Have a backup power plan for refrigeration—plan ahead!
Monitor and record food temperatures regularly.
Discard any food that may have been in the “danger zone” (42°F–134°F) for over 4 hours.
Keep coolers and ice packs ready to preserve perishables if the power goes out.
