Expert: Carol Schlitt - 6/24/2006

Question
I left a whole boneless pork loin in my car overnight, from about 7:45 pm to 6:45 am.  The meat was sealed in a long, heavy plastic tube and sat on the floor behind the front seat.  The temperature in the car when  we left it was about 72 degrees F.  There was no direct sunlight on the package.  Outside temperatures dropped into the lower 60's overnight.  The meat is now in the refrigerator.  Is it safe to eat?


Answer
Hi Sam,

Wish I could give you a difinitive answer. All we know is that all meat is not sterile (ie contains bacteria)and given the right conditions (like being at room temperature, or in this case car temperature all night)bacteria can grow to significant levels that can make you ill.

Does it happen every time?  Who knows...without lab testing you can not tell as the bacteria I'm talking about don't give off indicators such as off color, flavor or smell.  If you notice any of these signals then food spoilage organisims have taken over.

Now I can hear you asking -- but won't cooking kill the bacteria aned make it safe to eat?  Yes and No -- some bacteria produce toxins that are resistant to heat. So cooking doesn't always make food safe.

So my recommendation to you is throw it out. You can't be sure and is it worth the price of getting ill?

Wish I had a magic remedy to give you to assure you that it is safe -- sorry!!!

Carol C. Schlitt
Extension Educator, Nutrition and Wellness
University of Illiois Extension