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.