The risk of getting ill with coronavirus disease from handling or eating food is considered very low. Continue to follow basic steps for food safety. Also, eat nutritious foods to take care of your physical and mental health.

Coronavirus is thought to spread mostly from person to person through respiratory droplets when someone talks, sneezes, or coughs. A person can get the virus by touching a surface or an object including food packaging or foods that has the virus, and they touch their own eyes, nose, or mouth. However, this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.

Getting Coronavirus From Food And Packaging

The risk of getting the virus from the food you cook or from handling food from drive-thru or restaurants are thought to be very low. The risk of being infected by the virus from food packaging is thought to be very low as well. Even though some work in food production has gotten coronavirus, there is no evidence that it is from the food or packaging that they have handled.

Everyday Handling Of Packaged Food

The risk of infection from food bags, products, or packaging is thought to be very low. It is always important to follow good food safety practices to lessen the risk of getting the disease. When handling packaged food, here’s what you can do;

You should not use sanitizers or disinfectants that is intended for hard surfaces on a food package or plastic wrap
When unpacking groceries, refrigerate or freeze the meat and other perishables within 2 hours of purchasing
If your reusable cloth bags become not clean, follow instructions on how you should wash them and dry them on the warmest appropriate setting

When handling and cleaning fresh produce;

Gently rinse fresh vegetables and fruits under cold running tap water
Do not wash produce with sanitizer, bleach, alcohol, soap, or disinfectant
Even if you don’t plan to eat the peel, scrub uncut firm produce

Meal delivery;

If you have frozen prepared meal delivery, check the temperature of any food that is usually kept in the freezer right after it is delivered.
To help prevent the spread of the virus when you order you can pay online and accept deliveries without contact with others.
Freeze or refrigerate your delivery as soon as possible
Some deliveries have been delayed because of the outbreak and an increase in demand.

COVID-19 and Nutrition for Health

To help cope with the stress that may be related to the pandemic, take care of your body including good nutrition as part of self-care.
Dietary supplements are not meant to prevent or treat COVID-19. Certain minerals and vitamins might have effects on how your immune system works to fight off infections.
Getting the exact quantity of nutritious food like plenty of vegetables and fruits, whole grains, lean protein is important for health.
With changes in the availability of foods in some communities, you might be consuming more canned or packaged food. Look for some nutritional facts label that is available in packaged goods or canned foods.

Food Safety