topic Re: Grocery handling in Community Chat

Grocery handling

SuhseK — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 18:24:40 GMT

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Heads up, consumers: When running the essential errand that is grocery shopping during the coronavirus epidemic in the U.S., there’s no need to wipe down the food packaging after you’ve returned home, according to a federal agency.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) attempted to quell Americans’ fears that their food packaging may be contaminated with the novel coronavirus, as recent studies have suggested it can live on certain surfaces between hours and days.

But in a statement posted to its website on Thursday, the FDA said: “We want to reassure consumers that there is currently no evidence of human or animal food or food packaging being associated with transmission of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19

Re: Grocery handling

Kachina624 — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 18:29:38 GMT

@SuhseK Thanks for posting this. It's good to know.

Re: Grocery handling

Foxxee — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 18:38:33 GMT

So if the virus lives a certain number of hours on surfaces, the person bagging your groceries might be asymptomatic, handles the food and bags, you pick them up, someone explain how buyers will not pick it up on their hands?

That applies to those stocking the shelves.

I'm not buying it.

Re: Grocery handling

Nightowlz — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 18:47:47 GMT

I'm not doing that anyways. I just picked up $200 worth of groceries. I'm not washing all that stuff. LOL!!! It is what is it. I just make sure I wash my hands after handling it before eating etc.

Not everyone wearing masks or social distancing. I use self-checkout.

Re: Grocery handling

Pook — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 18:47:04 GMT

I would think that washing your hands thoroughly and not touching your face is protection enough. It may live on urfaces but if it doesn't come in contact with your mucous membranes you are probably safe as long as you wash your hands often.

Re: Grocery handling

esmerelda — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 18:50:28 GMT

@Foxxee wrote:
So if the virus lives a certain number of hours on surfaces, the person bagging your groceries might be asymptomatic, handles the food and bags, you pick them up, someone explain how buyers will not pick it up on their hands?

That applies to those stocking the shelves.

I'm not buying it.

@Foxxee That's why you use sanitizer when you get to the car and wash your hands when you get home and after you put your groceries away.

Of course if you're more comfortable wiping your things down, go ahead. Whatever makes you comfortable.

Re: Grocery handling

esmerelda — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 18:51:30 GMT

@Nightowlz Self checkout really is the way to go now, if available. It isn't where I shop.

Re: Grocery handling

Meowingkitty — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 18:53:02 GMT

@Nightowlz wrote:
I'm not doing that anyways. I just picked up $200 worth of groceries. I'm not washing all that stuff. LOL!!! It is what is it. I just make sure I wash my hands after handling it before eating etc.
Not everyone wearing masks or social distancing. I use self-checkout.

I agree. I'm not washing all of that stuff either. Most of it sits in the fridge, freezer or in the pantry for days before I use it so I would think ther germs are gone by then. I do wash my hands before and after putting them away.

Re: Grocery handling

mousiegirl — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 18:55:09 GMT

@Foxxee wrote:
So if the virus lives a certain number of hours on surfaces, the person bagging your groceries might be asymptomatic, handles the food and bags, you pick them up, someone explain how buyers will not pick it up on their hands?

That applies to those stocking the shelves.

I'm not buying it.

@Foxxee In the stores I shop, the employees are wearing masks and gloves, and the checker has those and a protective shield, could barely understand what she was saying, looked like an operating room nurse, lol.

Re: Grocery handling

Allegheny — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 18:59:23 GMT

They've told us how long the virus can live on surfaces and to leave our boxed deliveries outside yet they say mail and food and its packaging is OK to handle. I realize the chances for contamination may be small but please don't give me conflicting data.

I am not concerned about the employees of the store, but the customers. Who knows if a shopper has the virus, who could have coughed or sneezed into their bare hand while shopping then picks up a piece of fruit/vegetable and put it back down; or picks up a package to read the inform and puts it down.

Re: Grocery handling

Porcelain — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 18:57:09 GMT

What about the other people in the store touching the packages and then putting them back? I wipe down my groceries and anything that is delivered. There's no reason not to.

It is true that the virus isn't going to get into food. And it dies on most surfaces after a day or two because it needs a living host to thrive. But I wouldn't feel like it coudn't survive throughout the day if a shopper or worker got the virus on a can and then I picked that can up, or got it home and then touched that spot after I washed my hands.

Re: Grocery handling

shoesnbags — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 18:57:24 GMT

I read the article in the OP yesterday. Then later in the day I heard an “expert” (MD) on TV saying that we had to wipe down all groceries coming into the house. I’m fed up with conflicting advice. 😕

Re: Grocery handling

Still Raining — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 18:59:58 GMT

Nope, not a believer.

Everything, without exception, lives in the garage for at least a week. I have a refrigerator, freezers and shelves.

Even my purse is no longer allowed in the house.

Everything on the other side of the door may be a hazard.

Re: Grocery handling

GCR18 — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 19:02:08 GMT

I think you have to use some of your own judgement. I know there are a lot of unknowns, but I can't keep up with the changes. Wear masks, don't wear masks, etc. I will wear masks, sanitize/wash hands and keep my distance.

Re: Grocery handling

ValuSkr — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 19:02:54 GMT

The FDA gave this advice and then said, in conclusion, "Again, there is no evidence of food packaging being associated with the transmission of COVID-19. However, if you wish, you can wipe down product packaging and allow it to air dry, as an extra precaution."

They covered all the bases.

Re: Grocery handling

BlueFinch — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 19:04:19 GMT

They're just now telling us this, after hearing all the scare stories? For cryin' out loud, why wasn't this type of study carried out at the get-go? Were others really that unreliable? We needed (early) accurate information regarding every source of potential contamination. Argh!

Okay, I'm just mad, since my grocery trip yesterday turned into a 4 hour project. First off, I was dodging all the folks not wearing masks while shopping, then loading, unloading, and finally wiping everything down at home. I was exhausted. Somebody's gotta pay .

Re: Grocery handling

camelot — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 19:05:29 GMT

Facts about COVID-19? It's fluid. No one knows much at this time about the virus.

Re: Grocery handling

GCR18 — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 19:09:33 GMT

@Porcelain wrote:
What about the other people in the store touching the packages and then putting them back? I wipe down my groceries and anything that is delivered. There's no reason not to.

It is true that the virus isn't going to get into food. And it dies on most surfaces after a day or two because it needs a living host to thrive. But I wouldn't feel like it coudn't survive throughout the day if a shopper or worker got the virus on a can and then I picked that can up, or got it home and then touched that spot after I washed my hands.

@Porcelain this is what drives me crazy. I've seen it a couple times. Ladies touching every package trying to get to the one in the back. You didn't need to touch 14 other packages.

Re: Grocery handling

Mirren — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 19:15:51 GMT

@Foxxee wrote:
So if the virus lives a certain number of hours on surfaces, the person bagging your groceries might be asymptomatic, handles the food and bags, you pick them up, someone explain how buyers will not pick it up on their hands?

That applies to those stocking the shelves.

I'm not buying it.

Not to mention the unmasked walking around coughing...have witnessed this. And saw a video of a kid LICKING packs of toilet paper. (Thought he was being funny. Authorities found him and brought charges, but still.) My point both frightened me - I'm wiping everything down. Have an entire, tedious system assoicated with this.

Re: Grocery handling

Porcelain — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 19:18:53 GMT

@GCR18 wrote:
@Porcelain wrote:
What about the other people in the store touching the packages and then putting them back? I wipe down my groceries and anything that is delivered. There's no reason not to.

It is true that the virus isn't going to get into food. And it dies on most surfaces after a day or two because it needs a living host to thrive. But I wouldn't feel like it coudn't survive throughout the day if a shopper or worker got the virus on a can and then I picked that can up, or got it home and then touched that spot after I washed my hands.
@Porcelain this is what drives me crazy. I've seen it a couple times. Ladies touching every package trying to get to the one in the back. You didn't need to touch 14 other packages.

Me too! I normally like to look at ingredients when I shop and that involves picking up the package. But I would noooooooot do that nowadays. Don't people know they're increasing their risk the more stuff they touch? Geesh! Now it's almost like they're an annoying little brother licking all the cookies so you won't want any.

I think some go into a shopping trance and their autopilot mechanism kicks in and they do their usual in the store without thinking. Can't explain it otherwise.