[Explanation] Recently, the outer packaging or inner surface of imported cherries, chicken wings, beer and other food and beverages from many places have tested positive for nucleic acid. As the Chinese New Year is approaching, every household will prepare all kinds of fresh fruits and vegetables in advance.

This year, can all kinds of food, especially imported food, be eaten with confidence?

Will the new coronavirus be transmitted to people through food or packaging?

On the afternoon of January 26, experts from the Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention accepted an interview with a reporter from the China News Agency and answered questions about the safety of imported food, especially cold chain imported food, and how to clean imported fruits.

  [Explanation] Recently, the number of positive nucleic acid tests in imported food has increased compared with before. Whether this is normal or not, experts in disease control say this.

  [Concurrent] Zhou Yijing, Deputy Chief Physician, Food Safety Evaluation Institute, Jiangsu Center for Disease Control and Prevention

  This is also a relatively normal reason (phenomenon). The first is that now overseas is still in the high-incidence period of the new crown epidemic, and a large number of new cases appear every day. Second, my country (China) is now entering the winter, and the new crown virus is In winter, in a cold environment, its survival time is longer, so there will be frequent incidents now.

  [Explanation] Zhou Yijing told reporters that a positive nucleic acid test in food does not mean that such food is infectious.

  [Concurrent] Zhou Yijing, Deputy Chief Physician, Food Safety Evaluation Institute, Jiangsu Center for Disease Control and Prevention

  I don’t think we need to worry too much about this. There is no definite evidence to prove that we were infected with the new coronavirus through the gastrointestinal tract after eating cherries or other foods.

In fact, the detection of this nucleic acid on the surface of food is different from its infectiousness.

(Because) As long as there is a virus detection fragment, it can show this nucleic acid positive (phenomenon), but it does not mean that it is a live virus.

  [Explanation] Zhou Yijing said that the infectiousness of the new coronavirus requires multiple factors.

  [Concurrent] Zhou Yijing, Deputy Chief Physician, Food Safety Evaluation Institute, Jiangsu Center for Disease Control and Prevention

  First, it must be a live virus, and the other is that its viral load needs to be high enough. These two (factors) are also indispensable.

  [Explanation] Zhou Yijing said that when people eat cold-chain foods, including imported fruits, they must first take precautions and do not have to panic too much.

  [Concurrent] Zhou Yijing, Deputy Chief Physician, Food Safety Evaluation Institute, Jiangsu Center for Disease Control and Prevention

  At present, the relevant departments are also very strict on the control of imported cold chain food. It is recommended that everyone take precautions and do not have to panic excessively. These imported foods are still edible.

  [Explanation] Zhou Yijing gave the answer on how to disinfect the outer packaging of imported cold chain food.

  [Concurrent] Zhou Yijing, Deputy Chief Physician, Food Safety Evaluation Institute, Jiangsu Center for Disease Control and Prevention

  It is recommended that citizens wait for the outer packaging to return to above zero before disinfecting the outer packaging. We recommend using 500 mg per liter of chlorine disinfectant or 75% alcohol to wipe the surface of the outer packaging more than twice. Only then can the outer packaging be opened for processing and cooking.

  [Explanation] Zhou Yijing also gave suggestions on how to clean imported fruits including cherries.

  [Concurrent] Zhou Yijing, Deputy Chief Physician, Food Safety Evaluation Institute, Jiangsu Center for Disease Control and Prevention

  We still recommend to use soaking washing, soaking for more than 10 to 20 minutes, you can use some fruit cleaners for cleaning. It should be noted that after cleaning, we need to disinfect the used utensils, and you can use some alcohol to wipe Or immerse in a chlorine-containing disinfectant, and be sure to rinse with clean water to avoid chemical residues.

  [Explanation] Afterwards, the reporter visited several shops and stores selling imported fruits on the spot. Some businesses have brought their own test reports to promote discounts on cherries.

  [Concurrent] Merchant

  190 yuan a box of 5 catties.

You said it’s cheaper. It’s not a little bit lower, it’s a lot. Like this one, it used to cost 70 yuan to 80 yuan per catty, but now it’s only 30 yuan per catty. The ones that came out were all tested.

I'll show it to you. They are all large particles. Have you seen them? They are still full.

  Reporter Ge Yong from Nanjing, Jiangsu

Editor in charge: [Li Ji]