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How to handle foodstuffs in flooded areas

05/20/2010
 
Water in flooded areas is subsiding slowly and so the time of cleaning and removal of losses is coming. In this connection, the Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority reminds the rules for safe handling foodstuffs. People should not consume the foodstuffs that came into direct contact with floodwater as there is a high risk of microbiological contamination. Only hermetically closed tinned foodstuffs can be consumed on the condition that they were duly cleaned and disinfected. However, it is necessary to pay attention in particular to whether the packaging is damaged, deformed and whether the foodstuff shows sensory changes (modifications of taste, colour and aroma).
Chilled foodstuffs (meat and milk products) exposed to temperatures higher than six degrees of Celsius over a period longer than four hours should be destroyed as well. Frozen foodstuffs should not be out of the freezing regime longer than two hours. Attention should also be paid to foodstuffs that were not directly flooded, however, they were exposed to high humidity and they could be thus threatened by mould and dissemination of mycotoxins. In particular powdery foodstuffs (flour breadcrumbs), pulse, cereals, etc could be dangerous from this point of view.
All flooded food business operators, no matter whether sellers or producers, are recommended to destroy all flooded foodstuffs without any exceptions. If consumers encounter foodstuffs in retails showing evidences of damaging by water, they may submit a suggestion for inspection to CAFIA.
Immediately after high water subsides, CAFIA inspectors will be ready to go to affected regions. Their main aim will be to help with disposal of impacts of floods and to avert distribution of some foodstuffs devalued by water so that the health of consumers could not be threatened.

In extraordinary situations such as this one, the Inspection Authority tries to accommodate the operators; the Authority advise the operators how to dispose foodstuffs and it is also helpful in proving losses to insurance companies.


Author: Mgr. Martina Šmídtová - CAFIA spokesperson, phone : +420-542426633