Can COVID-19 Be Spread Through Food?

May 5, 2020 10:50 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

The COVID-19 pandemic has upturned life for just about everyone throughout the United States and in the affected nations around the world. People have been forced out of work (or to work from home), to change their daily routines and to take health and sanitation much more seriously than they ever have.

However, grocery stores and markets remain open as essential businesses, and many restaurants and other types of food service businesses have adjusted their operations to allow for carryout or curbside pickup. The question many shoppers have had is whether or not the virus can be spread through the food they bring home with them.

Here’s an overview of what you should know about COVID-19 and food in Williamsport, PA.

COVID-19 and food safety

The short answer is that at the moment, there does not seem to be any evidence that the novel coronavirus can be spread through food. That being said, it is still crucial to take sanitation and food safety very seriously.

Any time you are preparing a meal or about to eat, you should make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. This is a good general rule for food safety in all circumstances, not just in pandemic situations. In addition, throughout the day you should make sure to cover coughs or sneezes with your elbow or with a tissue/handkerchief, and always wash your hands thoroughly after sneezing, blowing your nose or coughing, or after going to the bathroom.

While there is no evidence to indicate the COVID-19 virus can be passed through food, it is still possible for the virus to be passed through touching an object or a surface, which is why it’s so important for you to be thorough and sanitary while preparing food. Packaging and containers used for food, for example, may harbor the virus, so touching your mouth, nose or eyes directly after touching infected packaging could result in you contracting the virus. However, it is important to note that this is not thought to be the main way in which the virus spreads. In fact, because the virus will not survive very long on these types of surfaces, the risk of contracting the virus from food packaging is thought to be extremely low.

So, taking all of this into consideration, the research that currently exists would say it is not possible to contract the virus through food itself, and there is only a very negligible chance of actually contracting the virus through the packaging used for it. But given the nature of the virus, you can never be too careful. Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, and make it a point to maintain social distancing procedures and follow all CDC guidelines. This is the best way to avoid getting sick and to keep others safe as well.

We are making it a point to exercise extreme care with all of our operations as we remain open during the pandemic. For more information about the COVID-19 and food safety measures we’ve implemented at Tony’s Delicatessen & Fresh Meats in Williamsport, PA, contact us today.

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