After a hurricane, is the food in your home safe to eat?

If you lost power, be careful: the food in your fridge or pantry could make you and your family sick.

If refrigerated or frozen foods stay at higher temperatures for even a few hours, they can be unsafe to consume, even if they’re cooked afterwards.

If you’re under a boil water advisory, all water for drinking, handwashing, washing fruits and vegetables, dishwashing or cooking must be boiled or otherwise sanitized before use. Or, use bottled water until the advisory is lifted.

So, if you lost power, it’s better to be safe than sorry. If in doubt, throw it out.

For more disaster recovery tips, go to disaster.ifas.ufl.edu.

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The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS works to bring science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. Visit the UF/IFAS web site at ifas.ufl.edu and follow us on social media at @UF_IFAS.

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