Can you get the coronavirus from food? Here’s what the CDC says
Nobody can social distance themselves from food. And food gets touched and squeezed in the still-open grocery stores.
So can you get the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 from food?
Enough people are asking that the CDC sent an email Monday morning, clarifying, “Coronaviruses are generally thought to be spread from person-to-person through respiratory droplets.
“Currently, there is no evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 associated with food.”
You can get it by touching a surface or an object that has the virus, then touching your mouth or nose, the CDC says, “but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.”
Because this coronavirus doesn’t last long on surfaces, there’s a small chance of it spreading from food or food packaging that’s been in shipping for days.
Still, the CDC warns, for best food safety, wash your hands properly before cooking or eating and after coughing, sneezing and using the toilet. Also, keep raw meats separate from other food and cook meat to the right temperature to kill foodborne illness germs.
For leftovers, get them cooled to 41 degrees or below as soon as possible.
This story was originally published March 23, 2020 at 1:03 PM with the headline "Can you get the coronavirus from food? Here’s what the CDC says."
