Food Safety After a Flood
Foods Affected by Flooding
Discard food that has come into contact with floodwaters.
The following foods should be considered unsafe and thrown away if they may have come into contact with contaminated flood waters:
- Food and food products stored within paper, cloth or cardboard boxes/containers;
- Home canned foods;
- Flour, grains, sugar and coffee in canisters or bags;
- Previously opened bottles;
- Fresh meat, poultry, and seafood;
- Any food wrapped in plastic;
- Fresh fruits and vegetables that do not have a peel or shell that can be removed before eating;
- Bottled or canned beverages, condiments (mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, peanut butter, jam, etc.);
- Commercially canned food without dents, leaks or bulges are considered safe if properly cleaned and sanitized. To sanitize: remove the label, thoroughly wash the cans in warm soapy water and rinse with clean water, soak for 30-60 minutes in a solution of two spoonfuls of chlorine bleach in water, re-label cans with permanent marker, making sure to include the expiration date.
Containers and utensils that come in contact with food may also be unsafe. If they have come in contact with contaminated flood waters do the following:
- Dishes and eating and cooking utensils should be thoroughly cleaned with a water and chlorine bleach solution;
- Throw away any plastic utensils, paper and plastic plates, wooden bowls, chopping boards and kitchen tools or any other non-food items made from a porous material;
- Food preparation surfaces should be wiped down using hot tap water and soap. Use bleach and water to sanitize after cleaning;
- If any plates, glasses, pots or pans are badly chipped or damaged do not use.
Refrigerators, Freezers, Stoves and Other Appliances
NOTE: Any appliance that has been partially or wholly immersed in water will have wet insulation with no insulation value. It cannot be dried without removal. A qualified service technician should be contacted before the appliance is put into service.
Once the safety of the appliance has been verified, it should be cleaned as follows:
- Ensure electrical power is turned off;
- Clean the unit thoroughly with a detergent solution, rinse with clean water, then wash with a solution containing one-half cup of chlorine bleach in nine litres (two gallons) of water;
- Allow to dry with door kept open. Note: Keep children away.
Power Outages & Food Safety
Food in the fridge should be safe as long as power is back on within a few hours. After that you may have to discard most foods. See list below for the types of food that should be thrown out.
- You can’t rely on appearance or odour
- Never taste food to determine its safety
- Some foods may look and smell fine, but if they have been in the fridge for too many hours without electricity- or at room temperature too long (over two hours); food poisoning bacteria may have multiplied enough to cause illness if eaten.
Food to Throw away from the Fridge:
If above 4 Degrees Celsius (40 Degrees Fahrenheit) for more than TWO hours:
- Non-vacuum packed deli meats (cold cuts)
- Soft cheeses
- Wieners
- Cooked dishes such as pasta, casseroles, stew, baked potatoes
- Raw ground meat including beef, pork, and chicken
- Fish and other Seafood (unless smoked or cured or pickled)
- Eggs
- Milk, cream, yogurt
- Opened baby formula
- Garlic in oil or butter
If above 4 Degrees Celsius (40 Degrees Fahrenheit) for more than FOUR hours:
- Hard cheeses
- Solid pieces of meat such as steaks or roasts
Keep the Freezer Closed. Keep what cold air you have inside. Don’t open the door/lid any more than necessary. A full freezer will stay at freezing temperature for two days; a half full freezer for about 1 day. Frozen food can be refrozen if ice crystals are still present. Some foods may lose some flavour but they will be safe to eat.
If your freezer is not full you can do one transfer of food from your fridge to your freezer to keep those foods cold- but do it quickly and shut the door/lid right away.
Additional Cleaning Considerations
Mould and Mildew
To avoid the health hazards of mildew and bacterial mould, water soaked walls and insulation should be removed, and the space and studding allowed to dry thoroughly. Walls constructed of drywall, plaster or wood will dry out in time but insulation in these walls is no longer effective. As insulation becomes water soaked the weight causes it to settle and compact at the bottom, leaving a large portion of the wall no longer insulated.
Household Furnishings
Upholstered furniture, mattresses, carpets and rugs affected by sewage contaminated flood waters should be thrown away.
Clothing, bedding and other soft/fabric articles including children's toys should be laundered on a hot wash (60ºC or the highest temperature indicated on manufacturer's instructions).
Hazardous Products
Containers that hold hazardous materials such as pesticides, fuel or gasoline may have spilled indoors during a flood. If there is a noticeable chemical odour and/or a spill, avoid skin contact with contaminated materials or contaminated water and keep the area well ventilated. Contact the fire department for help.
Links and Other Websites
Floods - Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada
Information from the Government of Canada to help you prepare for a flood, including what to do during and after a flood, and how to begin cleaning-up.
Keeping food safe during a power outage
Detailed information from the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care about food safety issues during and after a power outage.
For more information, please contact the City of Hamilton at 905-546-CITY (2489) or by email at info@hamilton.ca.
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