Managing a Power Outage in a Food Business

If the power cut has been for less than 2 hours you may not have too much drama on your hands. If you have any concerns for any of your products/supplies then follow the checking temperatures process below. More than 2 hours and food safety begins to be compromised.

Longer than 2 hours:

If the power supply to your fridges, chillers and freezers have been compromised for more than 2 hours or your power continues to be out it is important to follow these steps;

1. Place a sign on affected chillers and freezer doors stating DO NOT OPEN unless they have been given permission.
2. If you can, transfer everything affected into a refrigerated vehicle short term until the problem is solved. If you do this the temperature must be monitored every 2 hours to ensure product is less than 7°C.
3. If a freezer was full, power was off for less than 4 days and the freezer was not opened during the power cut and there is no evidence of thawing, contents should be ok to use.
4. Throw out any food that meets the below criteria. DO NOT use it for anything, even pet or pig food:
   
   • Power was off for more than 4 days.
   • The freezer was opened during the power cut.
   • The freezer was not full
   • There is any evidence that contents have thawed, or thawed and refrozen.

5. Follow the checking temperatures process outlined below.

Checking Temperatures:

In cases where the power has been off for a short amount of time or you are able to relocate your stock to a more suitable location it is important to check the condition of the stock, probe if necessary and consider if anything needs to be withdrawn.

Always throw food away in the following situations:

1. If product temperature of food from a refrigerator or chiller increases to greater that 7°C.
2. With freezers; if the product temperature is greater than -12°C.

Follow the processes outlined below

Your Food Control Plan

Record what has happened in your Food Control Plan. This is a requirement under the Food Act 2014 and will also help keep that verifier happy. Look at the following:

• Fill in a non-compliance report or record what the problem was, who and what was involved and how you solved it in your Food Control Diary or record keeping. If you use FCP log click here to find where to record this.
• If you have had to have your fridges, chillers or freezers fixed, serviced or replaced record this in your maintenance record. If you use FCP Log click here to find out how.
• Record any discarded food in your food wastage record. This will help you work out the financial cost later.

Power Outages and the wider business

Power outages not only affect chillers and refrigerators, but also lighting, the opening and closing of automatic roller doors and air conditioning units. If you use tank water you may not be able to get any running water without electricity. This will also mean there is the additional problem of toilets not being able to flush and hand washing made more difficult.

Remember to check all areas that are effected by lack of power and include them in your contingency and maintenance plans.