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Food is highly unlikely to be a source of COVID-19 contamination, experts say

2020-09-08T12:51:38.013Z


A team of food contamination experts say that food is highly unlikely to be a source of COVID-19 transmission.


Expert warns of infections in autumn and winter 1:10

(CNN) -

A team of food contamination experts say that food is highly unlikely to be a source of COVID-19 transmission.


The International Commission on Microbiological Specifications for Foods (ICMSF) examined the evidence that coronavirus could be present in food or its packaging and found very little.

Their finding reflects previous reports from the US Food and Drug Administration that there is no real risk of contracting the virus that causes covid-19 from food or food packaging.

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"To date, there has been no evidence that food, food packaging or food handling is a significant source or route of transmission for SARS-CoV-2 resulting in covid-19," said the organization in a statement.

"There are no foods that should be considered a risk or that justify its consideration as a vector of SARS-CoV-2."

While it's possible for people to eat something contaminated with the virus and become infected that way, it's never been seen to happen, they said.

However, it is still prudent to emphasize good food hygiene practices, the group said.

While some countries have restricted food imports, tested imported products, or asked companies to declare their products free from coronavirus, the ICMSF says none of this is necessary.

"The focus of food companies should be to protect food workers, consumers and restaurant patrons from being infected by the spread of SARS-CoV-2 from person to person," they wrote.

Why doesn't the virus survive on surfaces?

0:43

When did concerns about food contamination begin?

Concerns about the transmission of the virus through surfaces began in late March after a study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine.

'What the study showed is that under certain conditions in the laboratory, which are obviously somewhat artificial, SARS-CoV-2 is detectable for up to three hours in aerosols, up to four hours in copper, up to 24 hours in cardboard and up to two or three days in plastic and stainless steel, ”said Jamie Lloyd-Smith, a scientist who studied how long SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, could linger on various surfaces.

But the study did not take into account other factors that could help inactivate the virus, such as sunlight or disinfectants, or analyze different levels of virus, Lloyd-Smith said.

Most experts agree that the most important thing is to wash your hands, physical distancing and the use of masks are the best ways to ensure the safety and spread of the infection.

Can we get coronavirus by touching food packaging?

3:45

CNN's Sandee LaMotte contributed to this report.

Foods

Source: cnnespanol

All news articles on 2020-09-08

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