Should we wipe down groceries with disinfectant before bringing inside a house?
Should we wipe down groceries with disinfectant before bringing inside a house?
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There is no evidence that food or the packaging it comes in plays a role in COVID-19 transmission. The public health community is continually learning about how the novel coronavirus spreads, and what transmission routes are most likely to make it spread. Because of this continual learning in the public health community, there has been confusion around how easily COVID-19 spreads, through which routes, and what precautions are really necessary—such as wiping down grocery packaging. According to recent studies, the risk of becoming infected by surfaces like food and packaging is quite low, but the same prevention measures experts have been suggesting for months should still be followed. Health experts recommend hand washing after handling produce and putting away groceries, but not that people wipe down or disinfect the packaging or belongings before coming inside. They should instead use hand washing after bringing items inside and putting them away.
There is no evidence that food or the packaging it comes in plays a role in COVID-19 transmission. The public health community is continually learning about how the novel coronavirus spreads, and what transmission routes are most likely to make it spread. Because of this continual learning in the public health community, there has been confusion around how easily COVID-19 spreads, through which routes, and what precautions are really necessary—such as wiping down grocery packaging. According to recent studies, the risk of becoming infected by surfaces like food and packaging is quite low, but the same prevention measures experts have been suggesting for months should still be followed. Health experts recommend hand washing after handling produce and putting away groceries, but not that people wipe down or disinfect the packaging or belongings before coming inside. They should instead use hand washing after bringing items inside and putting them away.
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What our experts say
There is no evidence that food or the packaging it comes in plays a role in COVID-19 transmission. The public health community is continually learning about how the novel coronavirus spreads, and what transmission routes are most likely to make it spread. Because of this continual learning in the public health community, there has been confusion around how easily COVID-19 spreads, through which routes, and what precautions are really necessary—such as wiping down grocery packaging.
According to recent studies, the risk of becoming infected by surfaces like food and packaging is quite low, but the same prevention measures experts have been suggesting for months should still be followed. Health experts recommend hand washing after handling produce and putting away groceries, but not that people wipe down or disinfect the packaging or belongings before coming inside. They should instead use hand washing after bringing items inside and putting them away.
There is no evidence that food or the packaging it comes in plays a role in COVID-19 transmission. The public health community is continually learning about how the novel coronavirus spreads, and what transmission routes are most likely to make it spread. Because of this continual learning in the public health community, there has been confusion around how easily COVID-19 spreads, through which routes, and what precautions are really necessary—such as wiping down grocery packaging.
According to recent studies, the risk of becoming infected by surfaces like food and packaging is quite low, but the same prevention measures experts have been suggesting for months should still be followed. Health experts recommend hand washing after handling produce and putting away groceries, but not that people wipe down or disinfect the packaging or belongings before coming inside. They should instead use hand washing after bringing items inside and putting them away.
Context and background
Studies that look at the way COVID-19 spreads are evolving and it's leading to confusion about how we should be handling some of our most essential items — groceries. More research shows that person-to-person spread through close contact (as opposed to surface transmission, like with groceries) is the most well understood form of transmission, as well as the main transmission route for COVID-19.
Mixed messaging is contributing to debate around the need to wipe down groceries, wear gloves, avoid petting neighborhood animals, and other steps that would reduce surface transmission. The current research shows that surface transmission is likely very rare as a way of spreading COVID-19, but it is still a risk and it should be responded to with precaution. Therefore, public health experts recommend hand washing after bringing items inside and putting them away.
Studies that look at the way COVID-19 spreads are evolving and it's leading to confusion about how we should be handling some of our most essential items — groceries. More research shows that person-to-person spread through close contact (as opposed to surface transmission, like with groceries) is the most well understood form of transmission, as well as the main transmission route for COVID-19.
Mixed messaging is contributing to debate around the need to wipe down groceries, wear gloves, avoid petting neighborhood animals, and other steps that would reduce surface transmission. The current research shows that surface transmission is likely very rare as a way of spreading COVID-19, but it is still a risk and it should be responded to with precaution. Therefore, public health experts recommend hand washing after bringing items inside and putting them away.
Resources
- Running Errands (U.S. CDC)
- Shopping for Food During the COVID-19 Pandemic (U.S. FDA)
- Hygiene Theater Is a Huge Waste of Time (The Atlantic)
- Exaggerated risk of transmission of COVID-19 by fomites (The Lancet)
- Running Errands (U.S. CDC)
- Shopping for Food During the COVID-19 Pandemic (U.S. FDA)
- Hygiene Theater Is a Huge Waste of Time (The Atlantic)
- Exaggerated risk of transmission of COVID-19 by fomites (The Lancet)
