Don’t worry—you won’t catch COVID-19 from your food. A team of health experts has reassured the public that they can’t get COVID-19 from eating tainted food. Amid the stresses of the pandemic, that’s one less thing to worry about.
Foodborne COVID-19?
CNN reports that the International Commission on Microbiological Specifications for Foods (ICMSF) studied the evidence that COVID-19 might get carried on food or food packaging. After research, the team found little proof.
The ICMSF’s findings echo the US FDA’s report. According to the FDA, you don’t need to wipe down your groceries or takeout food. The agency said that it’s doubtful for you to catch COVID-19 from food or food packaging.
FDA has heard your concerns about shopping for #food safely. We want to assure you there is currently NO evidence of human or animal food or food packaging being associated with transmission of the #COVID19 . More food shopping info here: https://t.co/fYSYA9TH2R
— FDA FOOD (Ctr for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition) (@FDAfood) April 16, 2020
While people could eat food tainted with COVID-19 and get infected, the ICMSF noted that health experts have never seen this happen. However, they did stress that you should always practice good hygiene.
Banning Food Imports
Some countries have banned food imports from countries with numerous cases of COVID-19. However, the ICMSF says the bans are unnecessary. The group wrote that food businesses should protect their food workers and consumers from spreading COVID-19 among one another.
Where Did the Concern Over Food Start?
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine may have stoked public concern. The study suggested that COVID-19 might survive on various surfaces from three hours to three days. However, the study examined the virus under ideal conditions.
External factors, like sunlight or cleaning sprays, could kill the virus quicker than three hours. However, scientists still stress that people should wash their hands, wear masks, and avoid crowds to keep safe from COVID-19.
