Since the power will have been off for more than 12 hours due to PG&E Power Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS), Amador County Public Health and Environmental Health are providing advice regarding potential food spoilage. 

The refrigerator will keep food cold only for about 4 hours if it is unopened. A full freezer will hold the temperature for about 48 hours – but only for 24 hours if half full.

Any perishable food that has been above 40 degrees F for over 2 hours should be discarded.

 Here is a list of foods to be particularly concerned about:

• Meat, including lunchmeats, hot dogs, bacon, sausage, dried beef

• Poultry

• Fish (including fish sauces, oyster sauce)

• Eggs (hard-cooked in shell, egg dishes, egg products)

• Leftovers

• Salads (meat, tuna, shrimp, chicken, egg)

• Pizza, with any topping

• Canned meats (if labeled, “Keep refrigerated”, or opened)

• Casseroles, soups, stews

• Cheese (soft, shredded, low-fat) – hard cheese and grated Parmesan is OK

• Milk, cream, sour cream, buttermilk, evaporated milk, yogurt, eggnog, soy milk

• Opened baby formula

• Custards and puddings, quiche

• Fresh fruits – if cut only

• Opened mayonnaise, tartar sauce, horseradish

• Opened creamy-based dressings

• Spaghetti sauce, opened jar

• Refrigerator biscuits, rolls, cookie dough

• Cooked pasta, rice, potatoes

• Pasta salads with mayonnaise or vinaigrette

• Fresh pasta

• Cheesecake

• Pastries, cream filled

• Pies – custard, cheese filled, or chiffon; quiche

• Greens, pre-cut, pre-washed, packaged

• Vegetables, cooked, tofu

• Vegetable juice, opened

• Baked potatoes

• Potato salad

   

  These foods should be safe:

• Hard cheeses – cheddar, Colby, swiss, Parmesan, provolone, Romano

• Processed cheeses

• Breakfast foods – waffles, pancakes, bagels

• Pies, fruit

• Fresh mushrooms, herbs, spices

• Vegetables, raw

• Peanut butter

• Jelly, relish, taco sauce, mustard, catsup, olives, pickles

• Worcestershire, soy, barbeque, hoisin sauces

• Opened vinegar-based dressings

• Bread, rolls, cakes, muffins, quick breads, tortillas

• Grated Parmesan, Romano

• Butter, margarine

• Fruit (opened canned fruits, fresh, coconut, raisins, dried, candied, dates)

 For more information please visit the Amador County Environmental Health website:  https://bit.ly/325wu0z

Printable version of this document:  CLICK HERE