COVID-19: Do not make such mistakes with fruits and vegetables, risk intolerance

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Food Authority has consistently published scientific material, food safety and COVID-19.

Below ANSES, the French Health and Safety Agency in Food, Environment, and Work has provided recommendations for food, purchase, and cleaning.

Can I eat raw fruits and vegetables without further preparation?

ANSES examined the possibilities of COVID-19 disease if transmitted through food, based on available scientific data. Here are the answers to the most frequent questions.

Can animals on the farm get sick and infect us?

There is no evidence that farm animals, or foods derived from them play a role in the spread of the virus that causes COVIDD-19. Any transmission through food would be possible only if food was contaminated by a patient or a person infected with a virus when you touch it with dirty hands or expose it to infectious points produced during coughing or sneezing.

Can the contaminated food make us sick?

There is currently no scientific evidence suggesting that the virus can transmit us through the digestive device. However, the possibility that respiratory lesions will be infected when you chew contaminated food cannot be fully expelled. If you are sick, you should avoid treating food and cooking for others.

Is fruit and vegetables really necessary?

No. After buying, fruits and vegetables should be thoroughly washed with drinking water before cooked or eaten. Never use disinfectants such as bleaching or cleaning, since they can be toxic if not properly rinse. It is unnecessary to use the white vinegar to wash fruit and vegetables, since it has no viral effect. After washing the food with drinking water, sweeping it with a paper towel helps remove any viral particles. When possible, fruits and vegetables should be consumed raw, peeled.

How should vegetables be prepared if not to be eaten raw?

Start by washing your vegetables with drinking water.

Full cooking in an internal temperature of 70 °C is recommended not to activate many microorganisms. It can also destroy any SARS-CoV-2 virus potentially present (this particular virus is sensitive to a temperature of 63 °C for 4 minutes).

Remember to wash vegetables in drinking water and tow them with a paper towel to reduce transmission risk through indirect contamination, such as the spread of the virus into your hands.

Do such hygiene regulations also apply to packing?

Food packing may have been contaminated when treated by an infected person (touched with unclean hands, sneezing, etc.). Although the virus that causes the disease cannot survive for more than three hours on packing surfaces, you can take additional precautions by wiping out a wet paper. As long as packed products do not need refrigerators, leave them for two or three hours after taking them home from stores. For foods in the refrigerator, remove external packing (e.g. The card around the yogurt dishes before saving when possible. Of course, hands should be thoroughly washed before and after handling this package.

Is the white vinegar effective in destroying viruses in packing?

Studies have shown that white vinegar is ineffective in destroying viruses in food or packing them.

What precautions do I have to take when I get home from the stores?

First, wash your hands. Although the virus that causes the disease cannot survive for more than three hours on the surface of packing, you can take additional precautions by erasing the package with a wet one - use paper towel. For foods to be kept in the refrigerator whenever possible, remove external packing (e.g. The carton around the yogurt jars and clean the products with a wet paper towel before saving. Remember to wash your hands again immediately after.

Should I warm my bread again?

Bread matures at a high temperature in preparation, which eliminates viruses. The users, like other food professionals, are well aware of hygiene rules (obtaining hands and/or wearing gloves during the ministry, bread placed in bags, etc.). The threat of transmission of the virus is insignificant under these conditions, so there's no need to re-assemble your bread.

If you are sick, take all steps to avoid handling bread and preparing food.

Can COVID-19 be contacted through contact with contaminated surfaces?

Studies conducted in experimental conditions that differ from those encountered in everyday life have shown that the virus may remain infectious on different levels on the surface of the inerts. The risk of contacting the virus by treating contaminated objects cannot be ruled out theoretically, but it is low. That is why it is important to follow these rules: Do not touch your face while buying, and wash your hands when you return home and after you put the food items in their homes.

What is the best way to clean contaminated surfaces potentially?

Contaminated surfaces can potentially be cleaned up with ordinary household products (sup, cleaners, etc.). If you use bleaching, treat the product carefully because it is highly oxidative and kaustic to your skin, mucosa, and other materials.

Phones (in direct contact with hands and faces), computer keyboards, touch - screen tablets, and door handles may be vectors for transmission of the virus and should be cleaned with a suitable product (for example, wet disinfective cards that can be used in touch) ) pieces, untamed paper towels at 70 degrees [70 °] alcohol for other materials).