09/16/2008

Media Advisory: Food Safety, Nutrition Information During Power Outages

Writer:

Martha Filipic
filipic.3@cfaes.osu.edu
(614) 292-9833

Ohio State University Extension has information about food safety for consumers who continue to experience power outages. Although consumers who don't have power won't be able to download these items, media might find the information valuable to share:

• A six-page fact sheet, "Eating Nutritiously When the Lights are Out" contains an "Emergency Food Pyramid" and includes three days of menus of food that doesn't need refrigeration and that can be prepared without heating. http://fcs.osu.edu/hn/dowloads/emergency_food_pyramid.pdf
• Another fact sheet, "Attention Freezer Owners: In case of power outage DO NOT OPEN!!!" is available at http://ohioline.osu.edu/home/freezer.html. It contains information on freezer storage during power outages and guidelines for safely refreezing thawed food.

For additional information or interviews, contact:

Julie Kennel Shertzer, registered dietitian and program specialist with Ohio State University Extension in the Department of Human Nutrition
Shertzer.6@osu.edu
614-292-3538