Protect Yourself from COVID-19
and Georgia Legislative Session:
What Happened on Cross-over Day?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers the most accurate and up-to-date information about the COVID-19 outbreak. The resources below align with CDC messaging and offer science-based information about supporting health with good nutrition. – Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

Food and water. Although there is no evidence that COVID-19 can be transmitted through food or water systems, sharing food and beverages is discouraged. Home food safety includes promptly refrigerating foods, keeping raw and cooked food separate, and heating food to the appropriate internal temperature.

Wash produce. Rubbing fruit and vegetables under running water—and scrubbing those with hard skins—can help remove pesticides. But Rogers says there’s no data to show that COVID-19 is spread by consuming food. Other steps may not make much difference, since there is no evidence that frozen vegetables and fruits are more sanitarily packaged than fresh produce.

Washing hands is especially critical in reducing the spread of COVID-19 and should be done before preparing or eating food. Wash your hands with clean water and soap for 20 seconds at least after being in public, touching your face, coughing, sneezing, blowing your nose, or using the bathroom. Until soap and water are available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60-percent alcohol. Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and countertops provide protection, as well.

Grocery Shopping. Grocery services and meal-delivery services are having huge spikes in business. Instacart FreshDirect, Shipt, Amazon Fresh and AmazonPrime Now reported big surges in orders.

Senior Shoppers. “For older people and those with underlying health conditions—the group CDC recommends stay home—I highly recommend using a grocery delivery service,” says Jim Rogers, Consumer Report director of food safety research and testing.

Whether you buy groceries in stores or have them delivered, you should sanitize nonporous containers, although FDA has no current evidence to support the transmission of the virus from food packaging. But if you prefer, wipe containers like glass or cans with disinfectant wipes.

If that’s not practical, wash your hands well after putting away all packaging, including paper boxes and bags. “It all comes down to hand hygiene,” says Liz Garman, a spokesman for the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology in Arlington, Va. It also doesn’t hurt to wash your hands after opening the containers and using their contents.

One preliminary study found that the current coronavirus doesn’t survive on cardboard over 24 hours. So, wash your hands, counter, and other surfaces you touched after putting away your groceries. However, using a disinfectant isn’t necessary unless you share space with someone showing signs of respiratory illness or someone who has been exposed to the virus.

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