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Food Safety News published hurricane-recovery guidance on Oct. 9, 2026, warning that floodwater and prolonged power outages can make food and kitchen items unsafe. It advises discarding food exposed to floodwater or kept in a refrigerator or freezer during a power outage lasting several days, and gives steps for handling water and salvageable utensils.
Food Safety News published hurricane-recovery guidance on Oct. 9, advising people to discard food that may have contacted floodwater and to throw away refrigerator and freezer contents after a power outage lasting several days. The recommendations also cover drinking water, salvageable packaged foods and cleaning kitchenware, addressing risks that can remain after floodwaters recede or electricity returns.
The guidance says not to taste food to decide whether it is safe. If electricity has been out for several days, it advises discarding food in both the refrigerator and freezer. The report points readers to a separate chart for details on foods to keep or discard after a prolonged outage; it does not reproduce that chart’s item-by-item advice.
For beverages, the report recommends drinking only bottled water or other drinks that have not contacted floodwater. It warns that screw caps are not waterproof and says to discard bottled water or other beverages that may have been exposed. People without bottled water are directed to learn how to boil or disinfect water safely.
Food that is not in a waterproof container should be discarded if it may have contacted floodwater. The report identifies containers with screw caps, snap lids, pull tops and crimped caps as not waterproof. It says undamaged, commercially prepared foods in all-metal cans or retort pouches may be saved by following the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service’s severe-storm and hurricane guidance.
Floodwater Can Reach Food and Utensils
Floodwater exposure and long power interruptions can affect food safety even when packaging appears intact or food looks and smells normal. The advice not to taste food is a practical safeguard: appearance and taste are not reliable ways to determine whether an item is safe after a storm.
Clear discard and cleaning steps matter during recovery, when households may be sorting through damaged supplies and trying to preserve food. The report distinguishes between items that should be thrown away and certain intact, commercially packaged foods that may be retained if handled according to federal guidance.
It also addresses drinking water and objects that contact food. Following the recommendations can help people avoid consuming contaminated beverages or reusing items that cannot be safely cleaned after floodwater exposure.
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Advice for the Days After a Storm
The Food Safety News report was published on Oct. 9, 2026, amid its coverage of food-safety developments. Its guidance focuses on two hazards common to hurricane recovery: flooding and prolonged loss of electricity. It directs readers to federal resources for more detailed instructions on salvaging food and treating water.
For metal pans, utensils and ceramic dishes that contacted floodwater, the report advises washing thoroughly with hot, soapy water, rinsing, then sanitizing. It gives two methods: boil the items in clean water or immerse them for 15 minutes in a solution of one tablespoon of unscented liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water.
Some items should not be reused after possible floodwater contact, according to the report: wooden cutting boards, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples and pacifiers. It says these cannot be saved. For questions, it lists the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854, open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time, as well as email and Ask USDA live chat.
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Details Depend on Exposure
The report gives general recovery guidance, but the supplied material does not include the referenced power-outage chart or its specific recommendations for individual foods. It also does not provide details about a particular hurricane, affected community or reported illness outbreak.
Whether a particular item is safe may depend on its packaging and whether floodwater reached it. The source advises discarding items where exposure is possible in the situations it describes, but does not provide a case-by-case assessment. Readers should consult the cited USDA guidance or hotline for questions about specific foods and circumstances.
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Use USDA Guidance for Decisions
People assessing food after a storm can follow the report’s discard and sanitation steps and consult the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service’s Consumer’s Guide to Food Safety: Severe Storms and Hurricanes for further detail. The Food Safety News item does not announce a new rule or a scheduled follow-up; it directs readers to existing federal resources for decisions about food and water.
For questions, the report lists the Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time, and says support is available in English or Spanish. The listed alternatives are email at MPHotline@usda.gov and live chat through Ask USDA.
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Key Questions
Should I taste food to check whether it is safe after a hurricane?
No. Food Safety News says never taste food to determine its safety. Follow the discard guidance for possible floodwater exposure or prolonged power loss.
What should I do with refrigerated and frozen food after several days without power?
The report advises throwing away food in the refrigerator and freezer if power has been out for several days. It refers readers to a separate chart for more specific decisions about individual foods.
Can I drink bottled water that may have contacted floodwater?
The guidance says to discard bottled water or other beverages that may have contacted floodwater. It warns that screw caps are not waterproof. If bottled water is unavailable, it directs readers to learn how to boil or disinfect water safely.
Can I clean kitchen items exposed to floodwater?
The report says metal pans, utensils and ceramic dishes can be washed with hot, soapy water, rinsed and sanitized by boiling in clean water or immersing for 15 minutes in a solution of one tablespoon unscented liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water. It says to discard wooden cutting boards, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples and pacifiers that may have contacted floodwater.
Source: rss
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