Food Safety in Emergencies

Did you know that a flood, fire, national disaster, or the loss of power from high winds, snow, or ice could jeopardize the safety of your food? Knowing how to determine if food is safe and how to keep food safe will help reduce the risk of foodborne illness and minimize the potential loss of food.

On this page:
Food safety in any emergency
Fires
Power outages
For businesses
Food supply safety and security

Food safety in any emergency

• What Consumers Need to Know About Food and Water Safety During Hurricanes, Power Outages, and Floods
  Information for consumers from the US FDA on food and water safety during emergencies. Tips for being prepared, what to do when the power goes out, what to do once power is restored, and food and water safety when flooding occurs.
   
• Keep Your Food Safe During Emergencies: Power Outages, Floods & Fires
  Did you know that a flood, fire, national disaster, or the loss of power from high winds, snow, or ice could jeopardize the safety of your food? Knowing how to determine if food is safe and how to keep food safe will help minimize the potential loss of food and reduce the risk of foodborne illness. USDA.
   
• Drinking Water Safety in Emergencies
  Following natural disasters and other types of emergencies, drinking water in affected areas may become contaminated and cause outbreaks of disease. Problems with sanitation, including lack of water, toilet facilities, or damaged water wells can also increase the likelihood of waterborne disease.

Fires

• Consumer Tips For Food Safety After Fires
  Fires are serious threats to life and property due to the smoke, extreme heat, and chemicals they produce. In addition, a fire may directly or indirectly affect foods in ways that could endanger your health.

Power outages

• Power Outages - Key Tips for Consumers About Food Safety: FDA 
  Tips from the US FDA on what to do to prepare for, and handle, a power outage and your food.

For businesses

• Food Safety During a Power Outage (PDF)
  Somali (PDF) | Spanish (PDF)
  Power outages can significantly impact food safety in a food establishment. Appropriate action during a power outage is necessary to protect consumers from unsafe food and to minimize product loss. This fact sheet describes steps to take in response to a power outage at your food establishment.
• Food Safety After a Fire (PDF)
  Hmong (PDF) | Somali (PDF) | Spanish (PDF)
  Fires are serious threats to life and property due to the smoke, extreme heat, and chemicals they produce. In addition, fires may contaminate or damage food and products in ways that could endanger the health of the consumer. This fact sheet describes steps to take to in response to a fire at your food establishment.
• Keeping Your Food and Water Safe during Floods, Hurricanes, and Power Outages: FDA
  Information for the business industry and consumers from the US FDA. Includes information for restaurants and grocers reopening after flooding, how to dispose of contaminated food and information on the safety of food affected by hurricanes, flooding, and power outages.

Food supply safety and security

• Food Supply Safety and Security in Minnesota
  MDH works with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), and the Department of Public Safety, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) to insure the safety of our food even during emergencies.