Just found out that my store doesn't have power. It doesn't even have backup generators. So, how long can refrigerated and frozen food sit out before it has to be tossed?
As long as Frozen cases are not opened, they can last a decent amount of time. Most likely, they call for refrigerated trucks if the outage is going to last more then a few hours. The biggest problem stores face, Store Managers not closing the store ASAP when their is a power outage. Backup generators do not cover refrigerated cases, but Store Managers never want to close and lose sales, so doors/cases lose refrigeration when doors are opened.
Ha! Three days, more like one. Up by me, even before Krog, ANY perishables (with exceptions on non refrigerated produce) that reach to room temperature for more than anywhere between 15 minutes or an hour I'm pretty sure are to be disposed of immediately for food safety reasons. Three days? Unless you've got dry ice being packed in continuously and regularly, it ain't happening. "powers out? Doors stay shut." If we are expected to be down for more than 30 minutes, store is closed by Manager on Duty and all customers cleared with all staff beginning covering and such, Store Director is called back in, Manager On Duty or Store Director orders a refrigerated truck to roll to the store within an hour or two, and power company / utilities contractors are notified to roll to the store. Once power is restored, nothing gets uncovered until Store Director or MOD get the all clear from power company which could take upwards of an hour or more to completely verify the entire building and our refrigeration. Otherwise coolers are prepped to be pulled to the trailers once they arrive if we still have no refrigeration after a few hours unless we get dry ice in before hand.
There's probably a reefer truck there now at this point and theyve loaded up what they can. As far as my frozen bakery items go at least they won't let it sit out for more than 4 hours before it HAS to be loaded on the reefer. That dough especially does not last if it sits out. Same goes for refrigerated products.
Power outages suck, I've been through a couple. When I was at a small store I was closing that night, the power went out around 4 and I was there til midnight trying to save deli product out of our coolers. We got hardly any help from other stores either but my coordinator actually helped. She was the only coordinator who cared.
It actually is about 2 or 3 days. If you act fast, every door and battleship can be wrapped, taped up, and insulated properly to maintain their tempurature on their own. 3 days is the max though, Id say. (except for dairy and meat walls, those wont last that long) If the food falls out of temp for 30 minutes, yes, it goes out. Like if you were to leave a skid or wheel on the floor, it sure as hell aint lasting 2 days. But if the frozen food is still frozen, then its fine. In the major power outage in Ohio back in 2008 or something, I think most stores had lasted about 36 hours. I know my local one did. They cooked all of their food and gave it away in the parking lot for the community if I remember correctly. Same for the walmart.
That being said, you have to act and have good resources handy in the store. Every second is lost tempurature sooner. And once their insulated, they cant be opened. Its a lot like wrapping a frozen skid in cardboard and bags and putting it in a fridge-temp cooler. If the food is fine, the food is fine. Theres ways to measure that.
It actually is about 2 or 3 days. If you act fast, every door and battleship can be wrapped, taped up, and insulated properly to maintain their tempurature on their own. 3 days is the max though, Id say. (except for dairy and meat walls, those wont last that long) If the food falls out of temp for 30 minutes, yes, it goes out. Like if you were to leave a skid or wheel on the floor, it sure as hell aint lasting 2 days. But if the frozen food is still frozen, then its fine. In the major power outage in Ohio back in 2008 or something, I think most stores had lasted about 36 hours. I know my local one did. They cooked all of their food and gave it away in the parking lot for the community if I remember correctly. Same for the walmart.
That being said, you have to act and have good resources handy in the store. Every second is lost tempurature sooner. And once their insulated, they cant be opened. Its a lot like wrapping a frozen skid in cardboard and bags and putting it in a fridge-temp cooler. If the food is fine, the food is fine. Theres ways to measure that.
Once we had an issue and a couple of us (including the Unit Manager) went to the local hardware store, bought a few rolls of insulation and other supplies, and wrapped everything our damn selves. Plastic sheeting and insulating material will go a long way. Then monitored temps with fast alert system. Just like a power outage at home; as long as you keep the fridge shut, you're gonna be alright for a while. During a hurricane last year I was without power for three days but by running the fridge with my generator here and there, I was able to save everything food wise.
We have backup generators at our store, but they are only for the computer systems and a handful of security lights. Otherwise it's pitch black in that place.
