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In respect of floods that hit a large part of the territory of the Czech Republic, the Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority advise the citizens to be cautious in using foodstuffs from the affected areas. The food, that consumers from the affected areas had on stock or are about to buy, may be damaged or completely destroyed due to increased humidity. The food can also be contaminated with pathogenic organisms. For these reasons CAFIA suggests to proceed in accordance with the following recommendations:

1. Do not consume, on principle, the food with an expired use-by-date. This date usually refers to food that goes easily bad, such as some meat and dairy products, delicatessen salads, and products containing mayonnaise or confectioneries. The use-by-date on the label is usually indicated with words ”Best before …”. The foods indicated by a date of minimum durability (abbreviation DMT) can be consumed only when their safety has not been noticeably damaged. It is necessary to pay attention to visible changes on the surface of foodstuffs, moulds or possibly wet rot.

2. CAFIA does not recommend either to consume food that got into contact with floodwater unless its packing was not hermetically sealed. It is mainly because of potential contamination with pathogenic organisms. Even if the food is closed in a hermetically sealed packing, CAFIA advises to pay increased attention to such food prior to consummation – to check whether the packing has not been damaged and thus contaminated its contents. In case of any suspicion it is better to avoid consummation of such foodstuffs.

3. An increased attention should be paid also to longer lasting food that requires being stored in dry places (lasting pastry, pasta, flour, tea, spices, coffee, etc.). Due to increased air humidity the foodstuffs can easily go musty or even mouldy. It is therefore fully in order to pay more intensified attention to visual control of such foodstuffs and in case the growth of moulds or other changes are identified (atypical odour, evident dampness, agglomerated contents, colour changes, etc.), the CAFI Authority warns against consummation of the damaged food, even if the damaged parts are removed.

4. CAFIA by no means recommends re-freezing of the frozen food that was defrosted due to disconnection of electricity. The foodstuffs that need to be stored in low temperatures in the refrigerator might get damaged due to the fall-out of electricity and effect of increased storage temperature. Therefore it is advised to consider their possible consummation.

5. CAFIA recommends being cautious also when consuming fresh fruit and vegetables. Avoid consummation of fruits that are visibly damaged, mushy or attacked with mould or rot, even if the attacked parts are cut out. CAFIA also warns against consummation of fruit or vegetable that were in direct contact with floodwater. In any case, the fruit and vegetable need to be carefully washed prior being consumed