WHO Issues Food Safety Warning Amid Power Outages

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning on food safety in the event of power outages, as the world marks the 2024 World Food Safety Day on June 7.

In a series of messages posted on X, WHO cautioned that refrigerated or frozen food may not be safe to eat if exposed to temperatures above 5°C for more than two hours.

It advised that if a power outage lasts for more than four hours, perishable foods such as meat, poultry, fish, and leftovers should be discarded.

In addition, frozen foods that have thawed or been exposed to ambient temperature for more than two hours should be thrown away or cooked immediately.

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The Organization stressed that it’s never safe to eat food to determine if it’s safe, and advised people to err on the side of caution and discard any questionable food items.

For individuals living in areas prone to power outages, WHO recommended stockpiling pre-packaged, ready-to-eat, and canned foods, as well as bottled water.

It also advised sanitizing containers before opening them and discarding any damaged or compromised canned goods.

The World Food Safety Day, celebrated annually on June 7, was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2018 to raise awareness and encourage efforts to prevent, detect, and address public health risks linked to unsafe food.