Icy outdoors can preserve food during power outage

By Lisa Shumaker

CHICAGO (Reuters) - For nearly 610,000 customers in the U.S. Central Plains without power, the contents of their refrigerators and freezers may not be a total loss, a food safety expert said on Wednesday.

Meat, milk, cheese and other food can temporarily and safely be stored outside during freezing weather, said Doug Powell, an associate professor of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology at Kansas State University.

Freezing rain and ice brought down tree branches and power lines on Sunday and Monday, initially leaving 1.2 million customers without electricity. Utility companies were estimating it may take up to 10 days to restore power to all customers in Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri.

To turn a backyard into a refrigerator, place food in a cooler to protect it and monitor with a thermometer. Pack ice or snow around the food to help keep it cold.

Frozen foods will be fine for a couple days below 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 Celsius). Refrigerated foods will keep at temperatures below 40F (4C).

While it's fine for consumers to use their backyards as make-shift refrigerators, it's not an option for restaurants and other businesses that serve food, Powell said.

For more information:

www.foodsafety.ksu.edu

www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_121007_01/index.asp

(Editing by Walter Bagley)