USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service is reminding consumers to avoid foodborne illnesses during temporary power outages. The agency Wednesday cited Department of Energy data that found weather-related power outages are up by 67 percent since 2000. With high temperatures this summer, energy consumption is high, which 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, FSIS says monitor fridge and freezer temperatures. Make sure the refrigerator temperature is at 40 F or below and the freezer is at 0 F or below. Most fridges will keep food safe for up to four hours, while a freezer can keep food safe up to 48 hours.
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