(Jamestown ND) – Central Valley Health District has released this announcement on loss of power, for food in your Refrigerators and Freezers.

Refrigerated and frozen foods may not be safe to eat after the loss of power.
As many homes in our rural areas remain without power and/or experiencing unpredictable
power patterns due to the recent ice storm that hit the region, Central Valley Health District
(CVHD) would like to educate residents on how to keep their food safe during a power outage.
Follow these tips to help minimize food loss and prevent foodborne illness:

• Keep fridge and freezer doors closed – A full freezer (at 0°F or less) will hold its
temperature for 48 hours. A refrigerator (at 40°F degrees or less) will hold its temperature
for 4 hours.
• Put it on ice – After 4 hours without power, put refrigerated perishable foods in a cooler.
Add ice or another cold source to keep them at 40°F or below.
• When it doubt, throw it out! – Discard perishable food in your refrigerator (meat, fish,
cut fruits and vegetables, eggs, milk, leftovers, etc.) after 4 hours without proper
refrigeration. Throw out any food with an unusual odor, color, or texture. Throw out food
above 40°F.
• Check your temps – Have a battery powered thermometer on hand to monitor the
temperatures of your cooler and refrigerator to ensure it remains at the recommended
temperature.
• Refreeze properly – You can safely refreeze or cook thawed frozen food that still
contains ice crystals or is at 40 °F or below.

If you have questions call Central Valley Health at 701-252-8130.