The World Health Organization (WHO) has cautioned that foods exposed to temperatures above 5 °C (41 °F) for over two hours can become unsafe to eat. This warning was issued on Friday via a series of messages on X.com to mark the 2024 World Food Safety Day, themed “Food safety: prepare for the unexpected.”
World Food Safety Day, celebrated annually on June 7, was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2018 to raise awareness and encourage actions to prevent, detect, and address public health risks related to unsafe food.
“If there has been a power outage in your area, refrigerated or frozen food may not be safe to eat. Products can become unsafe if they have been exposed to temperatures above 5 °C for more than two hours,” the WHO stated.
The organization advised discarding all perishable foods in the refrigerator, such as meat, poultry, fish, and leftovers, after four hours without power. Frozen foods that have thawed should either be cooked immediately or discarded if exposed to ambient temperatures for more than two hours. The WHO emphasized, “Never eat food to determine if it is safe. If in doubt, throw it away.”
For residents in areas prone to power outages, the WHO recommends keeping a supply of pre-packaged, ready-to-eat, and canned foods, as well as bottled water. Undamaged canned goods and commercial glass jars are likely to be safe but should be sanitized before use. Canned foods with broken seams, serious dents, or leaks, and jars with compromised seals should be discarded.
