Power out? Here are food safety tips

With power out to tens of thousands in the area, the Florida Department of Health in Orange County offers these food safety tips:

Thaw foods in the refrigerator before cooking or serving

-- Keep cold foods at 41 degrees F or below

-- Cook foods for a minimum of 15 seconds as indicated below

-- Chicken and other poultry and stuffed meats - 165 degrees F

-- Ground beef and other ground meats - 155 degrees F

-- Pork, beef, eggs, and other meats - 145 degrees F

-- Once cooked, keep hot foods at 140 degrees F or above

-- Cool hot foods rapidly to 41 degrees F, or below, within 4 hours of serving

Handling foods

-- Do not touch ready-to-eat foods with bare hands

-- Use utensils to handle food, whenever possible

Should I keep it?

-- If possible, do not keep leftovers. When in doubt – throw it out!

Wash hands frequently with soap and running water

-- After using the bathroom

-- Before handling food

-- When switching between raw and cooked foods

-- After eating, drinking, or smoking

-- After changing a diaper

-- Whenever hands become contaminated

-- Between changing gloves

-- Make sure to keep soap and paper towels at all handwashing sinks

Wear gloves properly

-- Wash hands and put on new gloves before handling food

-- Never re-use or wash gloves

-- Change gloves once they become soiled or discolored

-- Change gloves when switching between raw and cooked foods

-- Change gloves whenever hands become contaminated

-- Always wash hands before changing into a new pair of gloves

-- Remove gloves before eating, drinking, smoking, or taking out the garbage

For more information, contact your county health department or visit www.floridahealth.gov or www.FloridaDisaster.org.

WFTV staff