The following guidelines will help you decide when to throw out foods and how to disinfect foods that can be saved.
Do not try to save the following foods if they have come in contact with floodwater:
- Fresh produce from your garden, such as lettuce, cabbage and potatoes. In some situations, immature root crops may be safe if you do not harvest them for at least two weeks after the floodwaters recede. To be safe, however, have your local Extension office or health department test the garden soil for harmful bacteria.
- Containers of nuts, spices, seasonings and flavorings.
- Canisters or bags of grains, sugar, salt, coffee and tea.
- Paper, plastic, cloth, fiber or cardboard boxes of food.
- Plastic bags of food, even if boxes and containers inside the bags seem dry. These include pastas, cereals, rice, dried milk, crackers, cookies or mixes.
- Screw-topped or crimp-topped jars or bottles of food that have been touched by floodwaters, even when jars have not been opened. This includes all home-canned foods in glass jars and bottles as well as all jams, jellies, honey, molasses, syrups, fruits, pickles, etc., in glass jars. There is no lid in use on glass food containers that will keep out water if the container is immersed.
- Porous non-food items that are used with food or put into the mouth, and items made of hard rubber, plastic or other flexible (porous) materials, such as baby bottle nipples, pacifiers, and plastic or wooden dishes and utensils.
Disinfecting Food and Utensils After a Flood
Canned Food
Cans that do not have dents or rust can be saved if they are handled properly before they are opened:
- Remove labels. Use a permanent marker to immediately re-label each can.
- Wash the cans in a strong detergent solution with a scrub brush to remove all silt.
- Immerse scrubbed containers completely in a lukewarm solution of chlorine for one minute. See directions in table below for making a chlorine disinfecting solution.
- Remove containers from the chlorine solution. Allow to air-dry before opening. Re-label with the permanent marker, if necessary. Use as soon as possible because containers may rust.
- If it looks or smells wrong when you open a can or jar, discard it.
Dishes and Utensils
Glass, ceramic and china dishes, metal and glass cookware, glass baby bottles and empty canning jars can be saved in the following way:
- Thoroughly wash them in a strong detergent solution, removing all filth and mud.
- Disinfect china and glass dishes in a chlorine solution in the strengths described in the table below.
- Disinfect metal pots, pans and utensils by boiling in water for 10 minutes.
Making a Chlorine Disinfecting Solution
Household bleach bottles contain a variety of chlorine percentages. The amount of bleach to add to water depends on the percent chlorine it contains. Look for the sodium hypochlorite percentage on the bottle, if available, in order to create an effective sanitizing solution for pots, pans, dishes, flatware, and countertops. Use a fresh solution of 1 tablespoon unscented 6% bleach or 1 teaspoon unscented 8.25% bleach per gallon of clean room-temperature water. Do not use low splash or scented bleach since they are not strong enough to sanitize. Learn more about chlorine bleach.
Chemical Safety
More (bleach) is NOT better. Chlorine can be harsh to hands and is a carcinogen. Use chemicals as the label specifies.
Do not mix Chlorine bleach with other chemicals including dish detergent. Chlorine mixed with ammonia can cause a deadly gas. Ammonia may be in cleaning agents.