Grocery deliveries in extreme desert heat

PALM DESERT, CALIF. (KESQ)- As temperatures continue to climb into the triple digits, more people are relying on grocery delivery services.

What happens when those groceries are left sitting outside in 115-120 degree heat? How quickly refrigerated and frozen foods can become unsafe in extreme desert temperatures and whether current food safety guidelines change in this kind of heat.

Dr. William Woo, the Assistant Chief of family medicine at Kaiser Permanente said "Do not rely on things like smell alone. Your food may smell normal, may look normal, may even taste normal. But if it's been out in the heat too long, it may make you sick."

Dr. Woo says perishable items like meat, fish, and dairy products are some of the biggest conerns. He also recommends bringing deliveries inside as soon as possible and refreiderating items if you're not eating them right away.

"When the temperature rises into the low hundreds and one teen area. The bacteria really starts to multiply. Your food could spoil and become dangerous in as little as one hour," says Dr. Woo.

That can lead to food borne illness caused by bacteria such as salmonella, E.coli, Campylobacter, Staphylococcus.

Customers told me they've also changed how they order food during the summer months, "Ive gotten my groceries delivered from Walmart and Costco. In the heat I tend to pick up my ice cream and cold things myself, and I use a freezer bag and immediately when I pick it up in the store, I put it in the freezer bag," said Mary Volkman.