Community Corner

Answers to Your Food Safety Questions

Tips from the USDA on what's still good in the fridge after a blackout.

Is the milk OK? How about that mayo?

According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s website, an unopened refrigerator will keep food safely cold for about four hours, and a full freezer will maintain its temperature for two days if left shut.

Thursday's blackout left Lemon Grove in the dark for about eight hours, which means perishable foods in the fridge—meats, milk, cheese, eggs and leftovers—should be thrown out to avoid any risk of food-borne illnesses.

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Butter and margarine are safe to keep, as are fruits and vegetables. Condiments such as mustard, ketchup, olivea, pickles and hot sauce are good—but mayonnaise and creamy salad dressings are not.

For a full list of what's safe to keep and what should be discarded, see the quick reference guide on the United States Department of Agriculture’s website.

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And remember this rule of thumb: When in doubt, throw it out.

The following Lemon Grove grocery stores are also open and operating under normal business hours

 

 

 


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