“Food Safety in Community Free Fridges” covers best practices for freely-available refrigerators. Because free fridges are usually located outdoors, open to the public, and exposed to extreme temperatures, they may have potential food safety risks. As the document says, “Accessibility does not have to compromise safety!” The factsheet discusses Community Engagement and Food Safety Culture, Common Risks, Cleaning and Monitoring, and Labeling. It offers best practices for accepting and storing donations and has a list of resources to consult for more information.
The resource also includes suggestions for how to start a free fridge in your community, starting with the organizing and how often volunteers should clean and inspect the fridge.