The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority confirmed that there is no evidence of possible infection of the new Corona virus through food, or its packaging process.
She explained that coronaviruses cannot live or reproduce in food, as they need a living animal or a human host to breed and survive, pointing out that washing fruits and vegetables with clean water is sufficient to ensure food safety.
In detail, the authority launched a new pilot campaign to educate consumers about ways to prevent the emerging coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic when dealing with foodstuffs, whether by purchasing or receiving them from a delivery service representative, or ways to safely cook them.
And she emphasized in the campaign - which was entitled "Corona and Food" - that there is currently no evidence of infection with the virus through food, or through its packaging process, pointing out that the method of transmission of respiratory viruses in general - including the Covid 19 virus - is by Direct contact with an infected person.
The commission advised using vinegar solution diluted with water (10 ml vinegar per liter of water), when washing fruits and vegetables, to increase reassurance. She added that the World Health Organization's commandments, to ensure food safety, stress that cooking well, at least 70 degrees Celsius, kills the virus. It also warns against defrosting frozen food at room temperature, and defrosting it by placing frozen food inside deep containers on the last shelf of the refrigerator, and advises against storing cooked food with raw food, and keeping it separately in the refrigerator. It also stresses the importance of avoiding eating raw or undercooked animal products, in addition to the need to deal with meat, raw animal members and raw milk carefully to avoid the contamination of pollutants from uncooked foods, in accordance with good food safety practices.
The authority pointed out that electronic shopping in these emergency conditions is an effective practice in enhancing the level of prevention and reducing opportunities for transmission, calling on consumers to take advantage of delivery services for food during Ramadan, and to maintain contact numbers with stores that provide this service.
She also called on the consumer to prepare a list of purchases before going to the store, and try to adhere to them, because it helps him to avoid random purchase and ensures the completion of the shopping process quickly.
She warned those fasting about shopping before breaking the fast, saying: "Do not shop while you are hungry, as it is preferable to go to buy food after breakfast so that it is easy to adhere to the list of purchases and resist tempting offers."
With regard to safe handling methods of home food delivery service, the authority stressed that it is best to use this service if the food delivery employee adheres to good practices in the field of personal and food safety, provided that the washing of hands with soap and water is taken after receiving the delivered requests.
7 procedures when shopping
The Abu Dhabi Authority for Agriculture and Food Safety has called on consumers who prefer to purchase their food needs themselves, to adhere to seven very important preventive measures, including:
Not to take children and the elderly to shop.
- Make sure to leave a safe distance of at least 1.5 meters between people when waiting in the queue to pay or when dealing with people through the receipt window.
Wear gloves to avoid contaminated surfaces while shopping.
- Using electronic payment services, such as bank cards or mobile payment services.
- If the shopper wants to pay in cash, he must pass the money in a way that avoids touching the hands directly.
Take off the shoes outside when returning home to reduce the risk of transmission to the home.
Wash hands for at least 20 seconds.