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Food Safety News published hurricane-recovery guidance on Oct. 9, 2026, warning that flooding and extended power outages can make food and food-contact items unsafe. It advises people not to taste-test food, to discard items exposed to floodwater unless they meet specific salvage criteria, and to use safe water for drinking and cleaning.
Food Safety News published hurricane-recovery guidance on Oct. 9, advising people to discard food that may have contacted floodwater and to treat food in refrigerators and freezers as unsafe after several days without power. The recommendations address risks covered by food safety, including drinking water and kitchen items after storms, when flooding and outages can disrupt normal storage and sanitation.
The report says never taste food to decide whether it is safe. If electricity has been out for several days, it advises discarding food in both the refrigerator and freezer. The article refers readers to a food-disposal chart, but the supplied report does not reproduce the chart or give more detailed time and temperature thresholds.
For drinking, the guidance says to use bottled water or beverages that have not contacted floodwater. It warns that screw caps are not waterproof, and advises discarding drinks in containers that may have been exposed. If bottled water is unavailable, people should consult instructions for safely boiling or disinfecting water.
Food that may have contacted floodwater should be discarded if it is not in a waterproof container. The report identifies screw-cap, snap-lid, pull-top and crimped-cap packages as not waterproof. It says undamaged, commercially prepared food in all-metal cans and retort pouches may be saved by following the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service’s severe-storm guidance.
Protecting Food and Water After Flooding
Floodwater can reach food, containers and kitchen surfaces, while a prolonged outage can leave refrigerated and frozen food without reliable temperature control. The advice matters because appearance and taste are not reliable safety checks, and using contaminated water or utensils can create further exposure during cleanup.
The guidance distinguishes between items that should be discarded and a narrow category of packaged foods that may be salvageable. Following the stated handling steps can help households avoid keeping exposed food or using unsanitized equipment while basic services are disrupted.
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Storm Damage Can Disrupt Food Safety
The Oct. 9 report focuses on two immediate hurricane-recovery conditions: flooding and prolonged power outages. It presents the recommendations as practical steps for checking food and food-contact items after those hazards, rather than as a report of a specific outbreak or confirmed contamination incident.
For dishes and equipment that contacted floodwater, the article advises thoroughly washing metal pans, utensils and ceramic dishes with hot, soapy water, rinsing them, then sanitizing them. Its stated options are to boil them in clean water or immerse them for 15 minutes in a solution of one tablespoon of unscented liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water. It says wooden cutting boards, plastic utensils, baby-bottle nipples and pacifiers exposed to floodwater should be discarded.
“Never taste a food to determine its safety.”
— Food Safety News report
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Details Depend on Local Conditions
The report does not identify a particular hurricane, affected community or official emergency order. It also does not provide the referenced food-disposal chart, so its brief statement about discarding refrigerator and freezer food after several days without power does not specify separate storage times or temperatures. Those details are not established in the supplied material.
Whether a package or utensil contacted floodwater may be difficult to determine during cleanup. The article gives general criteria but does not assess the condition of any individual household’s food. People needing case-specific advice can contact the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline or use Ask USDA, as listed in the report.
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Use USDA Guidance During Cleanup
People recovering from a storm should check the USDA FSIS severe-storm and hurricane food-safety guidance before trying to save eligible canned or pouch products, and follow local public-health instructions on water safety. Food Safety News lists the Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854, available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time in English or Spanish. The report also gives the email address MPHotline@usda.gov and the Ask USDA live-chat service.
As cleanup continues, the immediate steps in the report are to keep suspect food out of use, rely on drinking water that has not contacted floodwater, and clean or discard affected kitchen items according to their material. The supplied article does not announce a later update or a separate government action.
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Key Questions
Should I taste food to check whether it is safe after a hurricane?
No. Food Safety News says never to taste food to determine its safety after flooding or a power outage.
What should I do with refrigerated or frozen food after a prolonged outage?
The report advises discarding food in the refrigerator and freezer if power has been out for several days. It points readers to a USDA disposal chart for further guidance; the supplied article does not state specific time or temperature cutoffs.
Can I drink bottled water that may have been exposed to floodwater?
The guidance says to discard bottled water or other drinks that may have contacted floodwater. Screw caps are not waterproof. Use beverages that have not been exposed, or consult safe boiling or disinfection instructions if bottled water is unavailable.
Which food containers may be salvageable after flood exposure?
The report says undamaged, commercially prepared food in all-metal cans and retort pouches may be saved by following USDA FSIS severe-storm guidance. It says containers with screw caps, snap lids, pull tops or crimped caps are not waterproof.
Which kitchen items should be discarded after contact with floodwater?
Discard wooden cutting boards, plastic utensils, baby-bottle nipples and pacifiers that may have contacted floodwater. Metal pans, utensils and ceramic dishes can be washed and sanitized using the steps described in the report.
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