Answers To Questions About COVID-19 And Food Safety

At present, the world is still facing the common challenge of the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) epidemic. Compared with the foreign epidemic situation, through the efforts of the people across the country, my country's epidemic situation has achieved a phased victory, but we still cannot relax, and we must continue to do a good job in internal prevention and external control. All walks of life must pay attention to the prevention and control of the new pneumonia epidemic, especially our food industry.

The new coronavirus is mainly transmitted from person to person through droplets from the nose or mouth when the patient coughs, sneezes, or speaks. Therefore, we should strictly follow the recommendations of the country and the WHO: Keep the distance between people and wear them. Good masks, do not gather. At the same time, we must not take care of hand hygiene and disinfection. After all, the droplets sprayed by the infected person are scattered and adhered to the surrounding objects and surfaces, such as tables, door handles and handrails. If you are not paying attention to the hand touch, it is very easy to touch. Infection in your own eyes, nose or mouth.

1. COVID-19 is not a food-borne disease and will not be spread through food

　　WHO stated that “COVID-19 is not a food-borne disease, but an animal-borne disease”. What is a foodborne illness? Academician Chen introduced that food-borne diseases are generally called food poisoning, such as food poisoning caused by Salmonella, food poisoning caused by Listeria, or lethal E. coli, or a certain virus or even a parasite. They grow and multiply in food through these parasites, bacteria or contaminated food. People eat such food and develop diseases. Generally speaking, most of them are gastrointestinal diseases. Of course, there are diseases with other symptoms, which we call Foodborne diseases.

 According to the consensus of experts from the World Health Organization and other countries and China, COVID-19 is an animal-borne infectious disease. Like avian influenza, it needs to be parasitic on the host to survive. It is usually transmitted by animals first and then from person to person.

 And so far, based on the past experience of SARS and MERS and the development of the COVID-19 epidemic in China, there is no scientific evidence about the spread of the new coronavirus through food, so you don't have to worry too much about the spread of the new coronavirus through food.

2. Analyze food safety from the spread of the new coronavirus

 The new coronavirus is the same as other coronaviruses. There is a lot of research evidence that the coronavirus can survive for a long time below 0 degrees under low temperature conditions, but it is not heat resistant. In homes and catering establishments, the general heating and heat treatment processes can kill the virus, so there is no need to worry about living viruses while eating. Based on this, it is important to keep clean daily, separate raw and cooked food, cook thoroughly, maintain a safe food temperature, and clean water and ingredients.

3. The survival rate of the new coronavirus on the surface of food packaging is extremely low

 Studies have shown that the COVID-19 virus can survive for up to 72 hours on plastic and stainless steel products, less than 4 hours on copper products, and less than 24 hours on cardboard. However, experts believe that even if there is a virus on the surface of such food and food packaging, its amount will not be large, and the survival time will not be too long. Based on the experience of SARS and MERS in the past, the coronavirus can grow and reproduce in the human body, but it will not grow or reproduce on the surface of food, especially on the surface of food packaging. Because the COVID-19 virus needs to be in the host to reproduce and infect people, it is impossible for the COVID-19 virus to spread through food or packaging and then infect people. This chance is extremely small, so there is no need to worry.

 Although various organizations have emphasized that there is no evidence that the new crown pneumonia is spread through food or food packaging, a small amount of the virus may have fallen on the surface of food and food packaging. This exists, so WHO still recommends washing hands frequently and doing good hands. Ministry’s hygiene is the top priority to prevent contagious transmission of the new coronavirus.