Food Safety In Flood Cleanup

As flood victims in Kentucky and Louisville return to their homes to begin the cleanup process, many will have questions about what to do with food that came into contact with floodwaters.

Floodwater can contain raw sewage which carries bacteria, chemicals, and other pollutants that can make your food unsafe to eat. Some food exposed to flooding may be safe, but when in doubt, throw it out.

Here are some guidelines from the Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness Department:

Discard any food touched by floodwater
As a rule of thumb, if any food or food packaging has come into contact with floodwater, it should be thrown away. This includes:

Fresh produce
Meat, poultry, fish, and eggs
Dairy products
Open containers and packages
Food in cardboard boxes, paper, or plastic wrap
Home-canned goods
Even if items are sealed — like jars or cans with screw caps, corks, or snap lids — they are not considered safe if they have been submerged or splashed by floodwater.

Inspect canned foods carefully
Commercially canned foods with sealed, undamaged metal lids may be safe if properly sanitized. Here is how you can clean them:

Remove labels (which can harbor bacteria).
Wash cans in hot, soapy water and rinse.
Sanitize by soaking in a solution of one cup of bleach and five gallons of water for 15 minutes then soak in clean water for at least one minute.
Re-label with a marker, including the expiration date.
Clean your kitchen thoroughly

Before using your kitchen again, thoroughly clean and sanitize all surfaces, including counters, shelves, appliances and utensils.

Disinfect with a solution of 1 cup of bleach in five gallons of water.
Allow the surface to remain wet for at least one minute, then rinse with clean water.
Discard wooden cutting boards, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples, and pacifiers if they’ve been exposed—they’re difficult to fully disinfect.

Check your refrigerator and freezer
If the power was out for more than four hours, most refrigerated foods should be thrown away. Freezer items may be safe if they still contain ice crystals or stayed below 40°F. When in doubt, throw it out — don’t taste food to check if it’s safe.

Flood-contaminated food can cause serious illness. It is better to err on the side of caution and dispose of questionable items. Always prioritize safety over salvaging.
Source: WDRB