Keeping Food Safe After a Storm

Newswise — FOOD SAFETY: Use the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina as a time to plan ahead to keep your food safe, says Kathy Kress, assistant professor of nutrition and dietetics at SLU's Doisy College of Health Sciences. Foul weather can cause electrical power outages, which can cause refrigerated and frozen foods to spoil, Kress says. She suggests taking a few precautions. Buy an appliance thermometer to ensure foods are kept at the proper temperature " below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Fill empty plastic milk jugs three-quarters with water and freeze. You can use these home-made blocks of ice to stash inside your refrigerator if the power goes out and the temperature climbs above 40 degrees.