Are you worried about contracting coronavirus from food or food packaging via delivery or frozen products?
The World Health Organization (WHO) says it is highly unlikely that the virus can be transmitted through food or food packaging. It states that COVID-19 is a respiratory illness and primary means of infection is person-to-person contact and through direct contact with respiratory droplets and aerosols generated when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Coronavirus cannot multiply in food, they need an animal or human host to multiply. There is no evidence of viruses that cause respiratory illnesses being transmitted via food or food packaging.
The concern came to light after China found traces of the virus on frozen chicken wings from Brazil and frozen Ecuadorian shrimp in August. Some Chinese cities banned the import of such products subsequently.
The Mayo Clinic also observes that there is no evidence of transfer from food packaging, but recommends following hygiene measures such as washing hands with soap or alcohol, and washing food packaging with soap. For takeout containers, it suggests transferring the food onto a clean utensil and disposing of the container, followed by cleaning your hands and disinfecting surfaces the container came in contact with.
For vegetables and fruit, it recommends washing and scrubbing them under running water without soap. Cloth bags can be washed with soap or detergent.
It also mentions opting for no-contact takeout and delivery to lessen the risk of transmission.
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