Until this Monday morning (14), 500 thousand customers were still without electricity in São Paulo, according to the concessionaire Enel. The power outage has affected around 2.1 million customers since last Friday (11), when the state was affected by a strong storm.
The blackout, in addition to bringing financial losses to establishments and homes, can also pose health risks, as the lack of refrigeration of food increases the proliferation of bacteria and fungi.
“When food loses its refrigeration due to a lack of energy, there is a significant health risk associated with its consumption. This is because refrigeration is crucial to inhibit the growth of bacteria that can cause foodborne illnesses”, warns Mariana Valini Monteiro, nutritionist at Hospital Sírio-Libanês, to CNN .
Renato Grinbaum, infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at the Universidade Cidade de S. Paulo (Unicid), explains that, in addition, the lack of refrigeration can also lead to the loss of nutrients, vitamins and changes in the taste of food.
“Eventually, after the expiration date, these foods will contain a greater quantity than what is accepted, which can lead, in particular, to an intestinal infection”, he adds.
Experts emphasize that perishable foods, such as meat, fish, milk and cut vegetables, must be kept at a temperature of 4 °C or less, to prevent bacterial growth. “When the temperature rises above this level, bacteria such as Salmonella, Escherichia coli and Listeria can proliferate quickly, increasing the risk of food poisoning,” explains Monteiro.
Food should be discarded after 4 hours without power
When electrical power is interrupted for more than 4 hours, Perishable foods should be transferred to a cooler with ice to try to keep the temperature at 4°C according to the nutritionist.
If the power outage persists after this period, These foods should be discarded even if they look or smell normal, as they are considered unsafe for consumption.
“Identification of bacterial contamination can be difficult. If you have a food whose appearance, color and odor are altered, obviously you won’t enjoy it. But, if you spent three or four days with the food not at the appropriate temperature, there is no guarantee that the food is not contaminated”, emphasizes Grinbaum.
Signs and symptoms of foodborne infection
Symptoms of food poisoning can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and fever. These manifestations can occur hours or days after consuming the spoiled food.
In more serious cases, the infection can lead to dehydration and serious health complications, especially in more vulnerable people, such as children and the elderly, according to experts.
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This content was originally published in No lights at home? See precautions for spoiled food on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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