Power Cuts and Fridge Failures: FSAI Guidance

The FSAI guidance in short

Check the temperature of your fridges and freezers.
Chilled food: if it was likely above 5 °C for longer than 4 hours, discard it.
Frozen food: discard meat, fish or dairy that has fully defrosted.
Food still frozen, below −18 °C, can stay frozen.
Before restocking, check units are working and at the correct temperature.
If in doubt, throw it out.

While the power is off

Keep fridge and freezer doors shut.
FSAI consumer advice: a full freezer usually keeps for about 2 days with the door shut, a half-full one for about 1 day.
If a fridge door stayed closed, the FSAI says the food may still be safe. Check the temperature before you decide.
Note the time the power went, if you know it.

When it comes back

Take a reading from every fridge and freezer.
Work out how long chilled food was likely above 5 °C. Over 4 hours: discard it.
Check frozen food: still frozen and below −18 °C can stay. Fully defrosted meat, fish or dairy goes.
Don’t restock until each unit is working and back in range.

A fridge left open or failing

A fridge door left open for a long time can push the temperature above 5 °C.
The same rules apply: check the food temperature, and discard what has been too warm for too long.
Follow the corrective action in your HACCP plan, and get the unit repaired.

If there was flooding

It may be hard to tell when the power went, so check temperatures.
Discard any food touched or covered by floodwater, even unopened food.
Discard all open food stored in a flooded preparation area.
Clean and disinfect surfaces, equipment, crockery and cutlery that floodwater reached.
The FSAI advises speaking to your local environmental health officer before re-opening.

What to record

The FSAI doesn’t set a separate form for a power cut. Your fridge and freezer record has a comments and action column. Use it to note:

When the power went and came back, if known.
The readings you took, unit by unit.
What food you kept, what you discarded, and why.
When each unit was back in range, and who signed.

Our free fridge and freezer temperature log has space for readings and the action taken.

See the FSAI’s advice on a power outage in a food business. This is general information, not advice for your business. Your food safety management system (HACCP plan) and FSAI guidance are the reference. Hygivo is not affiliated with or endorsed by the FSAI.

Questions

How long can chilled food stay above 5 °C before I throw it out?

FSAI business advice is that food in the fridge must be kept at 0–5 °C. If it is likely that chilled food was above 5 °C for longer than 4 hours, it must be discarded.

Can I keep frozen food after a power cut?

Food that is still frozen can stay frozen as long as it is still below −18 °C. The FSAI says to discard any meat, fish or dairy products that have fully defrosted in the freezer.

How long will a freezer keep food without power?

FSAI consumer advice is that a full freezer will usually keep for about 2 days if the door is shut, and a half-full freezer for about 1 day. Check the condition and temperature of the food when the power comes back.

What if the power cut was caused by flooding?

Check fridge and freezer temperatures, because it may be hard to tell when the power went. Discard any food touched or covered by floodwater, even unopened food. The FSAI advises speaking to your local environmental health officer before re-opening.

Power cuts and fridge failures