Safe food handling can keep you healthy after the storm.  Some tips to remember:

• The refrigerator will keep food at proper temperature for about four hours if the doors are not opened. A full freezer will hold a safe temperature for about 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full).

• If the temperature in your refrigerator or freezer goes above 40 degrees, throw away perishable foods such as beef, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, and cut fruits and vegetables.

• Food can be safely refrozen if it still has ice crystals on it or has stayed below 40 degrees.

• Do not eat any food that may have come into contact with flood water. This includes packaged food items in plastic, paper, cardboard, cloth, and similar containers that may have been water damaged, as well as beverage containers with screw-caps, snap lids, crimped caps (soda bottles), twist caps, flip tops, and home canned foods, as these tops cannot be disinfected appropriately.

• As always, if there is any doubt as to the safety of the food, it is best to discard the food rather than take a chance of contracting a foodborne illness.

• Food doesn't have to look bad, smell bad or taste bad to be unsafe.

• WHEN IN DOUBT, THROW IT OUT!

• For more information about food safety contact the Surry Cooperative Extension office, 757-294-5215.