South Australian Blackout - Supermarkets Throwing out Frozen and Cold Food

Cluster on 30/09/2016 - 11:05
Last edited 30/09/2016 - 11:05

As everyone around Australia knows, South Australia had (and some people continue to have) a huge blackout that started 4:25pm EST Wednesday. Power was progressively restored to Adelaide suburbs and larger towns in SA about three to four hours later.

I visited Woolworths, Coles, and ALDI in the south of Adelaide yesterday evening and noticed that Coles had discarded almost all their dairy products and every frozen item. Most of the meat was missing too. Woolworths had thrown out some meat and all frozen items, but nothing from the dairy. ALDI appeared to have discarded nothing at all (unless ALDI is super efficient at restocking everything within 6 hours). These stores had lost power for a maximum of maybe seven hours.

What are the standards for discarding frozen food, dairy, and meat after a power outage? Does this food get used anywhere or is it straight to landfill? The above mentioned supermarkets were all in the same shopping center, yet ALDI appeared to keep all its stock while Coles was most aggressive in discarding. I imagine this scene was repeated across the state.

It was a pity seeing so many dairy products being thrown away. I have made cheese and yogurt and know both are not that temperature sensitive. Indeed, both products are naturally matured in warm temperature.

Food & Grocery

Comments

  • inherentchoice on 30/09/2016 - 11:20

    Pretty sure most of the supermarkets have backup generators for their freezers, no?

    Maybe the generators at Woolworths had fuel for 5 of the 7 hours and 2 hours without refrigeration is considered too long for meat but not for dairy?

    A quick Google found these standards for meat and dairy:

    • If you hold the food at temperatures between 5C and 60C for a total of less than
      two hours, you must then either return it to the refrigerator for final use later or
      ensure it is used before the 4-hour limit is up.
    • If the food has been held for a total of longer than two hours but less than four
      hours, use it before the 4-hour limit is up but note that the food cannot be returned
      to the refrigerator or coolroom.
    • If the food has been held for a total of four hours (or longer), discard it—it may not
      be safe to eat.

    Source: http://lmgtfy.com/?q=food+standards+refrigeration+discarded&…

    Not sure if these are the specific standards for supermarkets as there may be other codes and laws too.

    In your case perhaps the ambient temperature of the dairy fridges at Woolworths stayed under 5 degrees for longer than the meat fridge. The dairy fridges do have doors whereas meat fridges often don't, so it certainly seems plausible.

    • Cluster on 30/09/2016 - 11:56
      +1

      The interesting thing for me is there's an inconsistency in stock keeping.

      Coles - dairy, meat, frozen discarded. Only the frozen section has doors.
      Woolworths - frozen and some meat discarded. Dairy does not have doors and was left intact.
      ALDI - Nothing thrown out - frozen has doors, dairy and meat open.

      The key question is which, if any, of the above stores in my area have generator backup. I used to work in a supermarket and was told the generator backup was for cash registers, back end IT systems and some lights only.

      • inherentchoice on 30/09/2016 - 12:04
        +2

        There would also be an inconsistency with how each fridge slowly warms up after its power is cut. A well-insulated freezer full of frozen goods and ice cream will hold it's cold temperature for a long time, especially if no one opens the doors.

      • Diji1 on 30/09/2016 - 15:11

        Yesterday in Rundle Mall Coles had cleared all their cold and frozen stock out of the store.

        Woolworths across the across the road mall was business as usual LEL.

    • emibel19 on 30/09/2016 - 19:45

      Pretty sure most of the supermarkets have backup generators for their freezers, no?

      I don't think so.

      I'm hoping to get some cheap Connoisseur ice cream at my local Woolies tomorrow morning, so I hope they have some stock.

      Food (including ice cream) in my freezer compartment survived a 14-hour power outage early last year, and so far it seems to have survived about 9 hours on Wednesday.

  • andy19363 on 30/09/2016 - 11:56
    +1

    I think if you had visited yesterday morning, you would now have a fridge/freezer full of half price, (and below in some cases), meat.

  • battler on 30/09/2016 - 12:48
    +2

    so did anyone do some dumpster diving??

    • [Deactivated] on 30/09/2016 - 14:50

      jv gave it ago

      • Diji1 on 30/09/2016 - 15:13

        I will feed jv.

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