Hurricane Irma - Impact on Food Safety

Hurricane Irma has posed a number of challenges to the food supply chain - from growers to restaurants, to consumers.

Millions of people are still without power 5 days after the hurricane. At this point, perishable refrigerated and frozen foods are certainly lost. This not only impacts products at home, but also those in restaurants and retail.

Flooding, especially in coastal areas impacted by storm surges, has impacted homes and businesses.  Any food contacting flood waters should be thrown out.

There has been a huge impact on the agricultural sector from both flooding and from wind. It is estimated that 50% of the fruit came off the region's citrus trees. Vegetable crops have also been lost in areas prone to flooding.

Orlando Sentinel
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/consumer/os-hurricane-irma-grocery-supply-chain-20170919-story.html
Hurricane Irma challenges Florida grocery pipeline
September 19, 2017
Kyle Arnold

Guideance for Food Operations Exposed to Floods and Hurricanes

When a major disaster strikes, the safety of food becomes a major question.  In some cases refrigeration is lost for several days, in other cases, food is exposed to contaminated water.

For consumers, careful evaluation is needed for those foods stored in a the refrigerator or freezer that has lost electrical power ( http://extension.psu.edu/food-safety/news/2012/power-outages-and-freezer-failures , http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm076881.htm) and what to do when returning to a home that has been in a hurricane or flood (http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm076993.htm).

For businesses that handle food, FDA provides guidance for disasters.

·        Handling of food items exposed to flood waters (http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodDefense/Emergencies/FloodsHurricanesPowerOutages/ucm112723.htm).  It is important to note that jars with screw tops and bottles with crimp lids (beer and soda bottles) be destroyed.  The reason for this is that debris may become lodged in the space between the cap and jar.   

·        Disposal of food items (http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodDefense/Emergencies/FloodsHurricanesPowerOutages/ucm112717.htm)

·        Restaurants and Grocers reopening after flood or hurricane (http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodDefense/Emergencies/FloodsHurricanesPowerOutages/ucm112713.htm)

·        Decontamination of transport vehicles (http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodDefense/Emergencies/FloodsHurricanesPowerOutages/ucm112728.htm).

·        Water subject to a boil advisory (http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/FoodDefenseandEmergencyResponse/ucm211373.htm).

·        Crops (http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/FoodDefenseandEmergencyResponse/ucm274683.htm).