The World Health Organization (WHO) has advised that once perishable foods get exposed to temperatures above 5 °C (41 °F) for over two hours sequel to an interruption in the supply of electricity, they may become unsafe to eat.
Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the WHO gave this warning on Friday in a series of messages posted on X.com in commemoration of the 2024 World Food Safety Day which had as its theme, ‘Food safety: prepare for the unexpected’.
The World Food Safety Day which is celebrated annually on June 7, was established by the United Nations General Assembly task force in 2018 to raise awareness and encourage efforts to prevent, detect and address public health risks resultant from unsafe food.
‘If there has been a power outage in your area, refrigerated or frozen foods may not be safe to eat. Products can become unsafe if they have been exposed to temperatures above 5 °C for more than two hours.
After four hours of a power cut, the following apply: Throw out all perishable foods in your fridge, such as meat, poultry, fish, and leftovers.
Throw out all items in your freezer once they have thawed or cook them immediately, if they have been exposed to ambient temperature for more than two hours. Never eat food to determine if it is safe. If in doubt, throw it away’ the health organization submitted.
For people who live in places where an interruption in the supply of electricity is frequently recorded, the WHO also suggested possible ways of avoiding exposure to ‘unsafe food’.
‘In case you live in areas prone to power outages, always keep a stock of pre-packaged, ready to eat and canned food, as well as bottled water for an emergency situation. Undamaged canned goods and commercial glass jars of food are likely to be safe.
However, if possible, containers should be sanitized before opening them for use. Discard canned foods with broken seams, serious dents, or leaks; and jars with’ WHO added–Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com. Thank you
