AboutCarol Schlitt Expertise I can answer questions on home food safety, sanitation, home food preservation and commercial food safety (HACCP).
Experience I am an Extension educator, nutrition, wellness and food safety. I am a certified HACCP manager and a food safety instructor for the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Organizations International Association for Food Protection, American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (Certified CFCS), National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Society for Nutrition Education.
Education/Credentials BS - University of Illinois
MS - Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
Question I accidently left yogurt, frozen pancakes, fat free half and half and sliced deli turkey in the car upon returning from the grocery store. I am afraid that they were left in the car for about 5 hours. I know that this is beyond two hours, but I am wondering if the foods are still safe to eat if the items were still cold when I realized I had left them. Is this wishful thinking?
Thank you.
Answer Hi Cristina,
Unfortunately, I can not recommend consuming the food. Of course it is your call. If you feel confident that they were sufficiently cold during the 5 hours then you can make the call. The recommendation is to not consume foods that have been out of refrigeration over 2 hours.
Until we have a way of determining that foods that have been abused by being out of refrigeration are still safe, the recommendation will remain to not consume the foods.
