The rules and issues around the COVID-19 pandemic continue to evolve and information changes consistently. Please take note of when our content was written and always goâŻtoâŻthe sources weâve provided for the most current guidance.
Many of us have questions about how to protect ourselves and our loved ones from the transmission of COVID-19. Today’s question – can the virus be spread through food?
The BC Centre for Disease Control (BC CDC) has a lot of great information to help us stay informed. They say that COVID-19 doesn’t appear to be transmitted by eating food contaminated with the virus. Of course, that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be mindful of our hand hygiene! Remember to wash your hands well before preparing or eating food, just like you usually would.
Here are a few other useful facts from the BC CDC when it comes to food safety:
- Normal cooking temperatures for foods will kill COVID-19 and other microbes in food.
- COVID-19 is a virus and doesn’t grow. If the COVID-19 virus is on the surface of food and that food is stored in a cupboard, fridge, or freezer, there is no evidence that it can grow or multiply further. It isn’t known yet if COVID-19 can survive refrigerator or freezer temperatures.
- There is no evidence that COVID-19 is spread through food made by infected people. To be safe though, if you are sick with COVID-19, it’s best not to prepare or handle food for others.
- There is no evidence that COVID-19 is spread through eating or touching raw fruits or vegetables.
- Before, during and after preparing foods
- After handling any raw foods
- Before eating foods
- After using the washroom
- After touching pets
- After changing diapers
- After wiping runny noses or any hand contact with your face or your childâs face
For more details about anything mentioned above, please visit the food safety information on the COVID-19 section of the BC CDC website.
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Where do we fit in?
Yes, we are a provincial regulator. We are responsible for some very specific transactions in BC. We arenât experts on COVID-19. We wonât â and shouldnât â ever give medical or legal advice. But we are in a unique circumstance right now and we want to help people navigate the current reality. We donât have all the answers, but we will do our best to share information from reliable sources, put it in ways that are easy to digest and understand, provide referrals and help you navigate this situation.
About Consumer Protection BC
We are responsible for regulating specific industries and certain consumer transactions in British Columbia. If your concern is captured under the laws we enforce, we will use the tools at our disposal to assist you. If weâŻcanâtâŻhelp you directly, we will be happy to provideâŻyou with as much informationâŻasâŻpossible. Depending on your concern, another organization may be the ones to speak to; other times, court or legal assistance may be the best option. Explore our website at www.consumerprotectionbc.ca.
So ,Do you think itâs safe to order take out right now
Hello Hanny,
Thank you for the response! The BC Centre for Disease Control said that COVID-19 cannot be transmitted through food, therefore, eating take-out should be safe. Keep in mind to take proper hygiene protocols, such as washing your hands before and after eating your food. Following these steps are vital in COVID-19 prevention. Hope this helps!
Thank you for being there Ben.
I think it’s important to remember, and note to your readers, that food comes in containers, which are handled by people, and can therefore act as vehicle by which to spread the virus. I think you’re also remiss in not mentioning the risks involved in dealing with delivery people, or in entering a shop/restaurant to pick up food and measures people should take to avoid contact.
Hi Warren, great point! By following the proper hand washing procedures recommended by the BC Centre for Disease Control and using napkins to avoid bare hand contact with the containers, you can minimize the risk of contracting the virus.
Just remember, even though it may not be spread through food itself, those plastic takeout containers can be contaminated… just think of how they put a to-go lid on. We are erring on the side of caution and skipping any kind of take out (including coffee) until the risk subsides. No amount of takeout food is worth a life.
Hi Laurie, good point! By following the proper hand washing procedures recommended by the BC Centre for Disease Control and using napkins to avoid bare hand contact with the containers, you can minimize the risk of contracting the virus.
Thank you for your post. It is helpful to get information about food. I do wish the Health authorites would talk about this. We are not able to know about these things
Hi Wendy, glad we could help. More information can be found on the BC Centre for Disease Controlâs website linked to in the article!