The World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised that foods that have not been refrigerated properly as a result of power outages should be thrown out.
The health organisation gave this warning on Saturday in a series of messages posted on X.com in commemoration of the 2024 World Food Safety Day themed, ‘Food safety: prepare for the unexpected’.
WHO stressed that foods exposed to temperatures above 5 °C (41 °F) for over two hours can become unsafe to eat.
“If there has been a power outage in your area, refrigerated or frozen food may not be safe to eat. Products can become unsafe if they have been exposed to temperatures above 5 °C for more than two hours,” WHO warned.
The organization urged the people to throw out all items in their freezer once they have thawed or they should cook them immediately, if they have been exposed to ambient temperature for more than two hours.
In a staggering data released by WHO, foodborne illnesses affect 91 million people in Africa every year, adding that one in 10 people fall ill from contaminated food each year.
It said further that over 200 diseases are caused by eating food contaminated with bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemical substances.
In its recommendation, WHO said that those living in areas prone to power outages should always keep a stock of pre-packaged, ready-to-eat and canned food, as well as bottled water for an emergency. The organization however warned that people should discard canned foods with broken seams, serious dents, or leaks; and jars with cracks.
