- Print Friendly - Help

Keeping food safe during emergencies

February 2004

At times of emergency it is important that people keep their food safe from germs and contamination to avoid becoming ill.

Normal household services and facilities such as water supply, waste disposal and refrigeration may break down during floods, or any other disaster, and may pose a health risk.   Food and water are easily contaminated and loss of electricity means food may also spoil quickly.    

Information on food and water safety will, in the first instance, come from local authorities and public health offices during an emergency.  Different areas will face different issues.

Below are some general food safety measures that may assist victims of any natural disasters/emergencies from becoming sick by eating contaminated food.

• Boil all water if you have been advised to or if you have any doubt about the safety or purity of water.  Once boiled, cover and store in a clean container and place in the fridge (if working) or a cool place.  Reboil if not used within 24 hours.
• If you don’t have power, purifying tablets or bleach can be added to water to ensure safety.   Add five drops of household bleach per litre of water and leave for 30 minutes.  Chlorine-based water purifying tablets can also be used.  Add one tablet per litre of water, shake well to dissolve the tablet and stand for 30 minutes.  For more information on water safety during an emergency go to the Ministry of Health website www.moh.govt.nz for a copy of their publication “Protecting your Health in an Emergency”.
• Avoid cross-contamination of food from spoilt water by boiling or purifying water before using it in food preparation.
• Always wash and dry your hands before preparing food.
• Ensure that all utensils are clean before use.
• Eat perishable foods first.  Perishable foods are foods that go off or spoil quickly, for example, bread and meat.   Frozen foods should be eaten last.
• Minimise food spoilage by only opening your fridge or freezer doors to take food out. 
• Cook all food thoroughly.
• Vegetables and fruits submerged in flood waters should not be eaten.
• Cover all food with plastic wrap or store in waterproof containers.
• Store raw food (such as meat and poultry) below ready-to-eat foods to stop raw juices contaminating them.
• Leave bottles, cans of drink and water containers in the fridge to keep things cold.
• All rubbish containing food scraps must be protected from flies and rats by wrapping or putting in a sealed container.
• Throw out rotting or tainted food before it taints other food.
• If in doubt, throw it out.

For more information on your safety during an emergency go to www.mcdem.govt.nz.