Freezer and refrigerator breakdowns
Important: If you run a food business always seek the advice of your
local authority environmental health department. The advice below is designed
for domestic premises and is intended for consumers.
Power cuts and failures
Power cuts or other electrical failure may result in a breakdown of your
freezer or fridge. Once the power is off the food inside the units may be
exposed to a risk of contamination.
Any food poisoning and spoilage bacteria on
the food may start to multiply.
However, there are a few simple steps that you
can take to minimise the damage to the contents and growth of bacteria. Try to
find out from a neighbour or electricity company if a power cut in you area
occurred when you were out at work, on holiday and such like.
Always refer to the
manufacturers' instructions.
Freezer breakdown
The normal working temperature of your freezer should be -18C.
- Raw and ready
to eat foods should be separated in marked and dated covered containers or
freezer bags.
- Put raw foods at the bottom of the freezer and ready to eat foods at the top.
An unopened freezer (without power) that is well stocked may keep frozen food in
a cool area for up to 72 hours.
In the event of a power failure keep:
- The doors shut
- Insulate the unit with
duvets, blankets, newspaper and such like.
- Keep air vents clear.
- Remove insulation
material as soon as the power is back on to reduce a risk of fire.
If the raw food has ice crystals and has not been exposed to any cross
contamination it may be re-frozen provided the temperature has not reached above
-3C.
Any higher temperature then the food should be cooked straight away or
destroyed and safely disposed of.
Ready to eat food with no ice crystals should be destroyed. However, if ice
crystals are present and there has been no risk of contamination, and the temperature
is lower than -3C, then you can eat the food provided you follow the preparation
and cooking instructions.
Throw away contaminated food.
After power has been restored clean the interior of the freezer and remove
old food particles.
Refrigerator breakdown
- A fridge which has had no power for about eight hours or more may present a food
safety hazard.
- If the power failure happens when you are at home ask a neighbour if they have
space in a working fridge for you to put your contents in.
- Should your freezer be working and you have some frozen ice packs put the
highest risk foods into a cool box with the ice packs for no more than four
hours.
- Throw away contaminated food.
- After power has been restored clean the interior of your fridge.
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