Food that remained in refrigerators during the recent power outage may belong in the trash can, health officials said this week.

“The concern is with the electricity out in people’s homes. The food in their refrigerators or freezers is defrosting or spoiling,” said Donna McLaughlin, environmental health inspector for the Texarkana-Bowie County Family Health Center. “If the power has been out for more than two hours, then the food in refrigerators needs to be thrown out ... If it’s in a fridge that hasn’t been opened for four hours, it’s safe.”

Frozen foods have a little...

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