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Food Safety Following A Flood

Floodwater contain contaminants such as bacteria, sewage, and chemicals. With the exception of canned goods and some produce, most foods that come into contact with floodwater should be thrown away. If you've found yourself victim to flooding, you should heed the following food safety tips to ensure that you don't fall victim to food poisoning as well.

Discarding Food

You should discard any fresh produce, meat, and eggs that have been exposed to flood water . Opened containers and packages of food should be disposed of, even if the contents seem dry. All unopened glass jars with cardboard liners in the lid, such as mayonnaise or salad dressing, should be considered contaminated. Likewise, unopened, home-canned jars sealed with paraffin wax are unsafe to eat. All foods in cardboard boxes, paper, foil, cellophane, or cloth (dry cereals, rice, pasta, and beans) are all unsafe for consumption. Spices, seasonings, flour, sugar, coffee, and tea stored in canisters should be thrown out if found to be damp or lumpy. Finally, all commercial canned goods that are dented, bulging, or rusted need to be discarded.

Sanitizing

Food items that may be salvaged include unopened canned goods or foods stored in commercially sealed glass jars. Nevertheless, sanitizing or cooking these foods is recommended. Citrus fruits should be washed with a light bleach solution and peeled before eating. Raw fruits or vegetables should never be eaten.

Precautions

After a flood, you should never assume that any food is safe to eat, as this is a health risk not worth taking. However, if you look for signs of contamination and take the necessary precautions, you needn't be wary of eating what you're able to salvage.