Consumer Services Commissioner Bob Crawford today urged Hurricane Georges victims to take steps to ensure the food they eat in the aftermath of the storm is safe. All flood waters must be considered a possible pollution source because of overflowing sewers and septic tanks, street run off water and decomposing animals. Power outages can result in spoiled refrigerated goods. Even if food items don't look damaged, they can harbor microorganisms.
Flooding can contaminate food with silt, raw sewage, oil or chemical waste.
Residents should not take chances with these foods. They should discard them if they may have been contaminated by any flood waters. Perfect appearing jars may reveal sediment or micro contamination may be drawn into the container by the internal vacuum. Residents may be able to salvage certain undamaged canned goods. They should first identify the contents of the can with indelible ink and remove the labels because paper can harbor dangerous bacteria if labels have gotten soaked.