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Food Safety News published hurricane recovery guidance on Oct. 9, 2026, warning people not to taste food to judge its safety and to discard refrigerator and freezer food after several days without power. The guidance also covers drinking water, flood-exposed packaging and cleaning or discarding kitchen items.
Food Safety News published hurricane recovery advice on Oct. 9, 2026, telling households to discard food that may have contacted floodwater and food kept in a refrigerator or freezer during a power outage lasting several days. The guidance matters because flooding and extended outages can make food and drinking water unsafe even when contamination is not visible.
The report says never taste food to decide whether it is safe. If power has been out for several days, it advises throwing away food in both the refrigerator and freezer. It points readers to a separate chart for evaluating food after a prolonged outage, but the supplied report does not reproduce that chart or specify temperature-based time limits.
For drinking, the guidance recommends bottled water or other beverages that have not contacted floodwater. It warns that screw caps are not waterproof, and says to discard bottled drinks that may have been exposed. If bottled water is unavailable, it directs readers to guidance on boiling or disinfecting water; specific treatment instructions are not included in the report.
Food that is not in a waterproof container should be discarded if floodwater may have reached it. The report identifies containers with screw caps, snap lids, pull tops and crimped caps as non-waterproof. It says undamaged, commercially prepared foods in all-metal cans and retort pouches may be saved by following the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) severe-storm guidance.
Protecting Food and Drinking Water
Floodwater exposure and lengthy power cuts create separate risks: floodwater can contaminate food, drinks and kitchen equipment, while an outage can compromise refrigerated and frozen food. The published advice gives households a practical basis for sorting items during cleanup, when damage and contamination may be difficult to assess by appearance alone.
Following the instructions may also mean discarding substantial supplies, but the report does not quantify the amount of food at risk or provide a cost estimate. Its key safety message is to avoid tasting questionable food and to treat potentially exposed containers and items according to their materials and contact with floodwater.
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Guidance for Storm Cleanup
The Food Safety News report was published Oct. 9, 2026, amid coverage of food safety concerns following severe storms. Its advice addresses recovery conditions rather than one named hurricane, affected community or confirmed contamination incident. The report attributes the practical recommendations to federal food-safety resources, including an FSIS guide and USDA’s Meat and Poultry Hotline.
For utensils and dishes that contacted floodwater, it recommends washing metal pans, utensils and ceramic dishes thoroughly with hot, soapy water, rinsing them, then sanitizing them. The stated options are boiling in clean water or immersing them for 15 minutes in a solution of one tablespoon of unscented liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water. Wooden cutting boards, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples and pacifiers that may have contacted floodwater should be discarded, the report says.
“Never taste a food to determine its safety.”
— Food Safety News report
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Outage Details and Local Risks
The supplied report does not identify a specific storm, location or public health investigation, and it does not state how many households have been affected. It also does not provide the linked outage chart’s full criteria, detailed instructions for boiling or disinfecting water, or advice tailored to a particular local water system.
Whether an individual item is safe can depend on its packaging and exposure. The article’s recommendations direct readers to federal materials for further guidance; it does not report laboratory findings or confirm contamination in any named food or water supply.
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Where to Get Safety Advice
People with questions can contact the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time, in English or Spanish. The report also lists email at MPHotline@usda.gov and live chat through Ask USDA. Readers should consult the linked FSIS severe-storm guide for details on salvaging eligible canned and pouch foods, and local authorities for water-safety information specific to their area.
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Key Questions
Can I taste food to check whether it is safe after a hurricane?
No. Food Safety News says not to taste food to determine its safety. Follow the relevant discard guidance instead.
What should I do with refrigerator and freezer food after several days without power?
The report advises discarding all food in the refrigerator and freezer if the power has been out for several days. It refers readers to an outage chart for additional assessment details.
Are drinks in screw-cap bottles safe after floodwater exposure?
The guidance says screw caps are not waterproof. Discard bottled water and other beverages that may have contacted floodwater.
Which kitchen items should be discarded after floodwater contact?
The report says to discard wooden cutting boards, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples and pacifiers that may have contacted floodwater. Metal pans, utensils and ceramic dishes can be washed and sanitized as directed.
How can I ask the USDA about food safety?
Call the Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time, or email MPHotline@usda.gov or use Ask USDA live chat.
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