Traces of the coronavirus were reportedly found on packaging in China
recently, on consignments of frozen shrimp and frozen chicken wings from
South America.
This has again raised questions about whether coronavirus can be
transmitted via food packaging.
What are the chances?
In theory, it may be possible to catch Covid-19 from packaging material.
Laboratory-based studies have shown that the virus can survive for
hours, if not days, on some packaging materials - mostly cardboard and
various forms of plastic.
What's more, the virus is more stable at lower temperatures , which is
how many foods are transported.
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However, some scientists have questioned whether these results could be
replicated outside the lab.
Dr Julian Tang, associate professor of respiratory sciences at the
University of Leicester, says that in the outside world, environmental
conditions change rapidly, meaning that the virus can't survive as long.
And Emanuel Goldman, professor of microbiology at Rutgers University,
has also pointed out that the lab studies used samples of up to 10
million viral particles, whereas the number of viral particles in - for
example - an aerosol droplet sneezed on to a surface, was likely to be
only about 100.
Writing in The Lancet in July, he said: "In my opinion, the chance of
transmission through inanimate surfaces is very small, and only in
instances where an infected person coughs or sneezes on the surface, and
someone else touches that surface soon after the cough or sneeze (within
one to two hours)."
How could the virus be transmitted?
The transmission risk is generally based on the assumption that workers
in food packaging plants might touch contaminated surfaces, then touch
their eyes, nose and mouth.
Scientists do not now think this is the main route of transmission for
most Covid-19 cases.
"It may be possible that a person can get Covid-19 by touching a surface
or object that has the virus on it," says the US health agency, the
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on its website. However, it adds that
"this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads".
In fact, it is chiefly thought to spread directly from person to person:
Between people who are in close contact with one another (within 2m
(6ft))
Through droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or
talks
When droplets land in the mouths or noses of nearby people (or they are
inhaled into the lungs)
Dr Tang says that proving someone had picked up the virus through
packaging would also be difficult.
It would be necessary to ''exclude any recent exposure from any other
source'' - including asymptomatic social contacts - to be certain that
food packaging-related exposure was the true cause of an infection.
How can I stay safe?
The World Health Organization says "There is currently no confirmed case
of Covid-19 transmitted through food or food packaging". But it does
list a number of precautions you can take to avoid cross-contamination.
It says there is no need to disinfect food packaging, but "hands should
be properly washed after handling food packages and before eating".
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If you're shopping for groceries, use hand sanitiser before entering the
shop if possible, and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards, and also
after handling and storing your purchased products.
It should also be safe to have groceries delivered if the delivery
worker follows good personal and food hygiene practices. You should also
wash your hands after accepting food and grocery deliveries. Some
experts also recommend only using plastic bags once. |