13 December 2016, 11.45am

Take care with food while power off

Haora Tairawhiti health protection team advises that while the power is off, minimise your risk of getting sick:

1. Always wash and dry your hands before preparing food, using clean water and soap or hand sanitiser if possible.

2. Eat perishable foods, for example bread and meat first, as they spoil faster than non-perishable food

3. Open the fridge or freezer as little as possible.

4. Throw out rotting or tainted food before it spoils other food

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When the power goes on again

Many Gisborne people are concerned about the safety of their food in the fridge and freezer in the wake of the major power outage across the district.

A full, well-functioning freezer should be able to keep foods frozen for two days if the freezer temperature is normal (-18 degrees Celsius or below) -- the normal temperature for freezers.

A freezer that is only half full will keep foods frozen for about one day.

If the food in your freezer has begun to thaw, you will need to check each item to see if it is safe to eat. Perishable items, if still chilled, can be cooked and should be cooked thoroughly. Defrosted food cannot be refrozen.

Partially thawed food in the freezer may be safely refrozen if it still contains ice crystals or is cold to touch. Partial thawing and refreezing may affect the quality of some food.

ends

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