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Is it safe to eat things like chips after a building fire? (lemmy.ca)

submitted 11 months ago by MapleCoffee@lemmy.ca to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

30 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I live in an apartment building. Another unit recently caught on fire, and the building was evacuated. Smoke was everywhere. No heat reached my part of the building. I have not seen any soot, either.

I tried googling it, but I haven't been able to find a good answer that relates to things like chip packaging. They still have air in them, and the packaging doesn't fully match the descriptions of what foods to throw away.

Are things like this ok to eat after smoke exposure, or should I throw *** every *** type of food out? Thanks in advance.

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[–] FaceDeer@kbin.social 109 points 11 months ago (3 children)

I would imagine that anything that's in an airtight sealed container, such as chip bags, would be fine. That would also include cans. Your refrigerator and freezer, also, would probably count as a sealed container.

Smoke in a building fire can contain all sorts of weird chemicals from burning plastics and whatnot that could get deposited onto stuff, so even if you can't see any soot in your apartment I wouldn't dismiss all concerns. How tight is your budget?

[–] Synthead@lemmy.world 42 points 11 months ago

I'd wash sealed containers first, then go for it.

[–] MapleCoffee@lemmy.ca 32 points 11 months ago (2 children)

The budget isn't super tight, but nothing is open yet where I am. I'm just a bit hungry at the moment, because I missed eating for most of yesterday.

When the stores do open, I'll be at work and will have to wait until after my shift to buy more food.

I hadn't heard about this aspect of fire safety before today, so I figured I would see if anyone on here knew more about it. Thank you for responding!

[–] MNByChoice@midwest.social 7 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (2 children)

If you can, perhaps talk with your boss about the situation. "I am hungry as my apartment building had a fire and all my food might be covered in toxins", is a one off that gets some extra dispensation.

Edit: your response as 6 hours ago. You either are the chips, or are at work.

[–] intensely_human@lemm.ee 9 points 11 months ago

I’m starting to think OP is the chips

[–] radix@lemm.ee 6 points 11 months ago

I love the implication that, if they ate the chips, then they are not alive to be at work.

[–] tsonfeir@lemm.ee 7 points 11 months ago

Don’t waste good chips on a silly worry like an asbestos fire.

[–] P1r4nha@feddit.de 12 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, I'd be generally concerned sleeping in the apartment, but your advice concerning the food seems sound.

[–] tsonfeir@lemm.ee 9 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Crack a window, then crack that mouth and pile in them chips

[–] bartolomeo@suppo.fi 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Is it just me or this now vaguely sexual?

[–] intensely_human@lemm.ee 2 points 11 months ago

Nothing’s sexier than slightly cracked open lips