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Contents RestorationAsk Annissa

Ask Annissa: How do You Handle Food on a Pack Out? (With Video)

By Annissa Coy
fire damage
November 21, 2014

How do you deal with the food that is in a house that has had a fire? Do you destroy it all? If so, do you need prior approval from the adjuster and homeowner or is it your call?

 

First off, you need to realize that there is a little more liability when dealing with food that is potentially contaminated than other household items. There are many factors that come into play when determining what stays and what goes.

When dealing with food that is in a structure that has potentially been contaminated by smoke and soot, you need to be extremely critical. If there is any doubt, throw it out!

In almost 15 years, I have never had an adjuster get upset with me for logging and destroying food items. They always tell me to destroy food at my discretion. In fact, a few adjusters have said they wanted all food destroyed no matter what.

I shot a video on a job site that I feel answers this question with examples and lots of detail.

Please let me know what you think… 

KEYWORDS: contents cleaning contents inventory contents restoration packout

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Annissa Coy is a well-trained and highly skilled professional with more than two decades of experience in the cleaning and restoration industry and the co-creator of Firehouse Education and Mobile Cleaning Systems. She was also the winner of R&R’s inaugural Recognizing Women in Restoration award in 2017. Be sure to check out Annissa’s weekly videos on www.randrmagonline.com! Have a question for Annissa? E-mail her at Annissa@firehouseeducation.com.

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