Following a disaster, those affected should be aware of these safety tips:
Anyone with questions about the safety of their food as a result of weather damage and power outages is encouraged to call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline (888-MPHotline), available in English and Spanish from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. CDT.
Ask Karen, FSIS’ virtual food safety representative who has the answers to nearly 1,500 food safety questions, is available 24/7 from your smartphone at m.AskKaren.gov, also in English and Spanish. Ask Karen can be downloaded for free for iOS and Android devices.
The publication “A Consumer’s Guide to Food Safety: Severe Storms and Hurricanes” is an excellent reference to help determine if food is safe and how to keep food safe to minimize the risk of foodborne illness.
Throughout the week, FSIS will be reaching out through the press to those affected by the storm to help spread information on how to avoid foodborne illness as a result of power loss and compromised food storage.
For more information on available assistance, click here. For more food safety information, click here.