Print

Food and drinking water

Food

Following an emergency such as a flood, storm or cyclone, there is a danger that some food in your house may not be safe to eat, especially if power has been cut or if food has been in contact with contaminated floodwater.

After an emergency

It is recommended that you dispose of:

  • food that has been in contact with floodwater (see below for cans and sealed food containers)
  • food that has an unusual odour, colour or texture
  • refrigerated food that has been left unrefrigerated or above 5°C for more than 4 hours
  • frozen food after 48 hours (if the freezer is full) or after 24 hours (if the freezer is only half full). If frozen food has partially thawed, the food should be eaten as soon as possible
  • canned food where the can is open, swollen or damaged, or has a missing or damaged label.

Commercially canned or air-tight food containers that are sealed, intact, not bulging or dented, may be safe. It is recommended that you:

  • remove the label since it could harbour dirt and bacteria
  • re-label the can with a waterproof marker pen, including the expiry date. Use the product as soon as possible
  • thoroughly wash the outside of the can, then sanitise it by dipping it in a solution of 2.5mL (1/2 teaspoon measure) of unscented household chlorine bleach per 2 litres of clean lukewarm water for 30 seconds.

If in doubt, throw it out!

If your vegetable garden has been in contact with floodwater, the food may be contaminated and unsafe to eat. Contaminants may persist in the soil after flooding. Depending on the contamination type it may take at least a month before your home garden is suitable for replanting and/or harvesting of any produce.

Cleaning and sanitising

If benchtops, food utensils or kitchen equipment have been in contact with floodwater:

  • throw away damaged or cracked items, and items made from porous material such as wood, porous plastic or rubber (including wooden chopping boards) as these items cannot be adequately sanitised
  • wash utensils and surfaces in hot soapy drinking quality water
  • take apart and clean the non-electrical pieces of kitchen equipment and rinse in clean hot water
  • sanitise silverware, metal utensils, pots, pans and kitchen equipment in pieces by placing them in boiling water for at least 3 minutes
  • dishes and utensils that cannot be safely placed in boiling water (certain glassware, porcelain, china and enamelware) should be sanitised by immersing them in a disinfecting solution of 1 tablespoon of chlorine bleach per 2 litres of warm water, then rinsing with drinking quality water
  • clean cupboards and counters with hot soapy water, then rinse with a chlorine bleach solution of 1 tablespoon of chlorine bleach per 2 litres of warm water. Rinse thoroughly with drinking quality water
  • don’t use tea towels that might have been splashed with contaminated water. Wash them with non-colour stripping bleach solution or antibacterial washing detergent.

Remember to wash your hands thoroughly before handling food for consumption or touching clean surfaces.

After a power failure

It is useful to make a note of the time the power failed. Keep cold food cold.

Keep the refrigerator door closed as much as possible while the power is off. A closed refrigerator should keep food cold for 4 hours.

Freezers will usually not defrost and spoil food for at least 24 hours if half full or 48 hours if full, provided the door has been kept shut. If frozen foods have thawed, they should not be refrozen but should be kept cold and eaten as soon as possible.

If you have access to ice, pack your refrigerator and freezer to help maintain a cool temperature.

Keep hot food hot.

Throw out food that was being cooked when the power failed, if the cooking cannot be completed within 2 hours. If food is already properly cooked, eat it within 2 hours or throw it out.

Water for drinking and cooking

Having access to adequate supplies of safe drinking water during and immediately after a disaster is one of the most important parts of protecting your health.

However, drinking water supplied by your local council, your water utility, or your private water supplies from tanks, wells and bores may not be available or may become unsafe to drink after a disaster.

As a result, you should include adequate supplies of safe drinking water in your emergency kit. If you haven’t prepared adequate supplies of safe drinking water, the following information can help you treat water to ensure its safety.

During and immediately following a disaster

Local councils and water utilities have an obligation to alert the public if they know or suspect the safety of the water has been compromised as a result of a disaster. Listen to your local radio and TV station or check your local council’s website (if possible) for updates on the water supply. It is important that any advice provided through these channels is followed.

Making water safe

If your local council or water utility knows or suspects drinking the water might make you sick they will advise you to boil the water before consumption. Water should be brought to the boil and then allowed to cool, before being stored in clean, covered containers before use.

Take care when boiling water as it can scald. It is safest to boil water using an electric kettle. If you have lost electric power water can be boiled using a saucepan on a gas stove, barbecue or portable gas cooker. Always take care when boiling in pots and pans, particularly if you have young children or vulnerable people in your household. Keep pan handles turned inward so children cannot reach them.

The use of bottled water is another safe alternative.

Use cooled, boiled water or bottled water for:

  • drinking
  • preparing baby formula
  • hand washing
  • preparing food and cooking
  • brushing teeth
  • bathing infants
  • making ice.

Dirty dishes should be washed in hot soapy water, rinsed in hot water and left to completely air-dry before using again. You don’t need boiled water for toilet flushing and clothes washing.

Water contaminated by chemicals (including fuels) will not be made safe by boiling. Use a different source of water if you know or suspect that water might be contaminated.

Further information

Last updated:
9 March 2022
Share this page: