Food Safety

Get some tips with how to manage food safely during power outages.

Food Safety

Food safety tips during power outages.

Fresh food

Throw out fresh food if:

  • it has been in floodwater
  • it has an unusual smell, colour or feel
  • it has been unrefrigerated for more than four hours.

Frozen food

Throw out frozen food if:

  • it has been in floodwater
  • the power to the freezer has been off for more than 48 hours for a full freezer, and more than 24 hours for a half-full freezer.

Note: Food that has started to defrost should be eaten as soon as possible. Do not refreeze.

Pantry food

Throw out pantry food if:

  • it has been in floodwater
  • it is open, swollen, damaged or missing labels.

Note: If in doubt, throw it out!

For more information, contact your nearest Queensland Health public health unit, or visit Food Standards Australia.

Sunshine Coast Council acknowledges the Sunshine Coast Country, home of the Kabi Kabi peoples and the Jinibara peoples, the Traditional Custodians, whose lands and waters we all now share.
We commit to working in partnership with the Traditional Custodians and the broader First Nations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) community to support self-determination through economic and community development.
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