Food supply, safety should not be taken lightly after storm

During a hurricane you have to be resourceful with the necessities you have. Food supply and safety should not be taken lightly.

Here are some ways to keep food safe and take care of yourself while trying to find what to eat in a hurricane.

Do not eat any food that may have come in contact with flood water.

Discard any food that is not in a waterproof container.

Food containers that are not waterproof include those with screw-caps, snap lids, pull tops, and crimped caps.

Also, discard cardboard juice, milk, baby formula boxes and home canned foods if they have come in contact with flood water.

Inspect canned foods and discard any damaged cans.

That can be swelling, leakage, punctures, holes, fractures, extensive deep rusting, or crushing/denting severe enough to prevent normal stacking or manual, wheel-type can opening.

Undamaged, commercially prepared foods in allmetal

cans and retort pouches (flexible, shelf-stable juice or seafood pouches) can be saved if you do the following;

Remove the labels, they can inhabit dirt and bacteria.

Thoroughly wash the cans or retort pouches with soap and water, using hot water if available.

Rinse the cans or retort pouches with water that is safe for drinking, since dirt or residual soap will reduce the effectiveness of chlorine sanitation.

Then, sanitize them by immersion in one of the following ways;

+ place in water and allow to come to a boil and continue boiling for two minutes, or

+ place in a freshlymade solution consisting of one tablespoon of unscented liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water (or the cleanest, clearest water available) for 15 minutes.

Air dry cans or retort pouches for a minimum of one hour before opening or storing.

If the labels were removable, then re-label your cans or retort pouches, including the expiration date (if available), with a marker.

Food in reconditioned cans or retort pouches should be used as soon as possible, thereafter.

Any concentrated baby formula in reconditioned, all-metal containers must be diluted with clean, drinking water.

Thoroughly wash metal pans, ceramic dishes, and utensils with soap and water, using hot water if available.

Rinse, and then sanitize them by boiling in clean water or immersing them for 15 minutes in a solution of one tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water.

Thoroughly wash countertops with soap and hot water, if available.

Rinse, and then sanitize by applying a solution of one tablespoon of unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water.

Allow to air dry.