When the power goes out, keeping your food safe becomes a top priority. The Henry and Stark County Health Departments advise residents to keep refrigerator and freezer doors tightly shut during outages to preserve the cold. Unopened freezers full of food can maintain safe temperatures for up to two days. If you add ice, be sure to use gloves and collect melted water to prevent contamination. After power returns, examine all food—if it has an unusual smell, color, or texture, or feels warm, throw it out.
For detailed guidelines and resources on food safety, contact the Environmental Health Division at (309) 852-0197 or visit www.henrystarkhealth.com. Stay connected by following the department on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
