A power outage can spell disaster for a school tuckshop. Not only does it limit how you can serve and operate, but it also puts your cold food and produce at risk.
When there is a power outage you need to take extra measures to reduce the risk of food-related illnesses.
What to do with cold food when the power goes off?
- Food can remain safe in your refrigerator and freezers without power for 2 hours
- Food stored at more than 5 degrees Celsius for 4 hours or more should be thrown out.
- If you have sufficient space in the freezer, after 2 hours remove foods from the fridge and place them in the freezer or an Esky with ice bricks.
- Avoid opening the freezer or fridge door as this will reduce the time the contents will remain frozen or cold.
- If your freezer is efficient, and its door seals are in good condition, it can maintain foods in a frozen state for between 1 and 2 and a half days.
- If you are unsure about the time that has passed or the temperature your food has been stored at, then throwing the food out is the safest option.
The ‘4 hour/2 hour rule’ for safe storage of food
The following actions are recommended for any potentially hazardous food that has been at temperatures between 5 °C and 60 °C for a total of:
- less than 2 hours – refrigerate or use immediately
- longer than 2 hours but less than 4 hours – use immediately
- 4 hours or longer – must be thrown out.
Make a note of the time the power went off. If available, use a watch and a thermometer to follow these time and temperature recommendations. Eat perishable foods first and save the dried and canned food until last.
Information sourced from: https://www.foodsafety.asn.au/when-the-power-goes-off/
