Storm Goretti: Food Standards Agency issues guidance to those affected by major weather incidents
Storm Goretti has brought snow, wind, and power outages to the UK – but how will this affect food stored in our homes?
Sussex and Surrey – along with the rest of the South East and London – are currently clear of any Met Office warnings.
However, the region is covered by flood alerts and warnings from the Environment Agency. Click here for an East Sussex round-up and here for a West Sussex round-up.
The Met Office said Storm Goretti’s influence ‘wanes through Friday’ but further snow and ice warnings have been issued, with ‘disruption likely for much of Scotland and northern England on Sunday’.
The weather experts added: “Storm Goretti has been an impactful weather system, with significant disruption and impacts reported so far. A peak gust of 99mph was reported at St Marys on the Isles of Scilly, the highest here since 1991."
The Food Standards Agency has issued a warning of its own, amid the weather-related chaos nationwide.
“The Met Office has issued amber and yellow weather warnings with the arrival of Storm Goretti today and tomorrow,” the agency’s social media post read.
"Power cuts can have an effect on how you are able to store and cook food safely in your home.
“If the power cut lasts under four hours it's unlikely to have an impact on your food safety.”
Here are some top tips if it lasts over four hours:
– Keep your fridge and freezer doors shut as much as possible;
– Use a fridge thermometer so you can tell if the fridge has become too warm;
– Save foods stored in the cupboard for later;
– Eat chilled foods first such as foods with a use-by date and pre-packaged prepared foods that are ‘ready-to-eat’ like sandwiches, salads, and deli meats.
For more information and advice visit: https://www.food.gov.uk/safety-hygiene/food-safety-in-a-power-cut-advice-for-consumers
Meanwhile, National Highways’ winter operation has been in ‘full swing for several months’ and continues during Storm Goretti – described as a ‘multi-hazard’ weather event by the Met Office.
Darren Clark, severe weather resilience adviser at National Highways, said: “Our teams work alongside Met Office meteorologists so that we can get our 530 gritters out to where they are needed most.
"So far this year, we have carried out 4,500 gritting runs across the country.
"Drivers can also take some simple steps to avoid any delays or breakdowns including preparing their vehicle by topping up on fuel and screenwash and checking tyres, as well as keeping your distance and avoiding sudden braking.”