USDA Offers Food Safety Tips for Areas Affected by Western Heat Wave

USDA Offers Food Safety Tips for Areas Affected by Western Heat Wave

USDA Offers Food Safety Tips for Areas Affected by Western Heat Wave

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WASHINGTON, August 18, 2020 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing food safety recommendations for residents in the U.S. West Coast who may be impacted by power outages from an intense Western heat wave.

The National Weather Service is reporting that there is a strong mid/upper-level ridge of high pressure that is responsible for the heat wave across the western U.S. This system is producing high temperatures that will soar well beyond the century mark, with many locations surpassing 110 degrees Fahrenheit in the Desert Southwest, and perhaps isolated spots exceeding 120 degrees Fahrenheit, especially today. Some areas in California may experience power outages due to rolling blackouts. Power outages can compromise the safety of stored food. FSIS recommends that consumers take the following steps to reduce food waste and the risk of foodborne illness before, during, and after a power outage occurs.