InfoSearched
Published -
- April 8, 2020
- 9:31 pm
At no other time in recent history have groceries dominated so many headlines.
Major media outlets are talking about everything from grocery shortages to grocery delivery to grocery workers and how to shop for groceries safely.
What about when you get those groceries home though? The opinions on whether or not you should sanitize your groceries are somewhat mixed, even among health experts. One video made by physician Dr. Jeffrey VanWingen that advised washing fruits and vegetables with soapy water, took the internet by storm and racked up millions of views. Benjamin Chapman, a professor and food safety specialist, saw things differently, though, and said that the risk of an upset stomach from ingesting soap wasn’t worth it and advised against VanWingen’s recommendation.
“For me, I’m not treating my produce any differently than I would be if I was worried about food safety in produce before.”
VanWingen also advised that people keep their groceries in the garage for several days in case the virus was on the packaging. Chapman also disagreed with this. He explained:
“We don’t have any evidence that food or food packaging are transmission vehicles for coronavirus.”
But wait just a second…The National Institutes of Health says on their website that because SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can live on cardboard for up to 24 hours, that people could contract it through touching, quote, “contaminated objects.” You also might be wondering, “But what about other types of materials like plastic and steel?” Well, we’ve got some bad news…
Does this mean we should spray everything we buy with Lysol and throw those potentially deadly cardboard boxes in the trash before they can pass along COVID-19? Infectious disease expert and President of ACCESS Health International, Dr. William Haseltine, told People that food packaging poses little risk of virus transmission and sanitizing your groceries might be, quote, “a little too much.”
The USDA says that so far, they’re, quote, “not aware of any reports at this time of human illnesses that suggest COVID-19 can be transmitted by food or food packaging.” That’s somewhat reassuring, except for those words “so far.” It’s always a good idea to rinse your produce when you get it home, though, especially in these strange times.
Food microbiologist Donald Schaffner agreed with his colleagues that there’s no evidence COVID-19 is spreading through food or food packaging. Taking the extra step to clean your groceries just isn’t necessary. Keep watching the video to see the surprising truth about sanitizing your groceries!
What are some effective ways to stay safe and healthy during these unprecedented times?
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we live our lives. With people taking extra precautions to keep their families safe, the focus has shifted to sanitizing everything from surfaces to groceries.
As the world grapples with this pandemic, people are becoming more conscious about hygiene and cleanliness. One question on everyone’s mind is how to sanitize groceries to stay safe from the virus.
The internet is filled with information on how to sanitize your groceries, with people suggesting everything from wiping down individual items to soaking them in warm water with soap. But the truth is that washing or sanitizing your groceries isn’t as important as you might think.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is no evidence to suggest that the virus can be transmitted through food or food packaging. In fact, the risk of getting infected with the virus from food packaging or groceries is very low.
The virus is primarily spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. The virus can spread through contact with contaminated surfaces or objects, but it’s not the primary mode of transmission.
That’s not to say that you shouldn’t take any precautions when it comes to groceries. You should still wash your hands before and after handling groceries and try to minimize contact with other people while shopping. But sanitizing your groceries isn’t necessary unless you’re handling them for someone who is immunocompromised or at a high risk of infection.
So, what should you do instead?
Focus on social distancing, hand hygiene, and wearing a mask when you’re out shopping. Avoid touching your face while you’re out, and sanitize any high-touch surfaces like grocery carts and baskets.
If you’re still concerned about the virus being present on your groceries or packaging, you can leave them out for a few hours or overnight. This will reduce the risk of any potential virus particles remaining on the surfaces.
In conclusion, while sanitizing your groceries may seem like the right thing to do, the truth is that it’s not as necessary as we once thought. Instead, focus on practicing good hygiene habits, maintaining social distance, and wearing a mask to stay safe and healthy during these unprecedented times.
