Is it safe to shop for food during the COVID-19 pandemic?

As grocery shopping remains a necessity during this pandemic, many people have questions about how to shop safely. 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.

What are some precautions to take when storing groceries during the coronavirus disease pandemic?

Before eating, rinse fresh fruits and vegetables under running tap water, including those with skins and rinds that are not eaten. Scrub firm produce with a clean produce brush. For canned goods, remember to clean lids before opening. When unpacking groceries, refrigerate or freeze meat, poultry, eggs, seafood, and other perishables—like berries, lettuce, herbs, and mushrooms—within 2 hours of purchasing.Regularly clean and sanitize kitchen counters using a commercially available disinfectant product.

Is it safe for me to go out for shopping?

If you have had no suspected exposure to the virus and you have no symptoms, you can go shopping yourself. Limit the number of trips you make, so buy enough for a week or two.

How can I stay safe while grocery shopping?

Stay at least six-feet away from other shoppers.

Don’t shake hands, hug or have any physical contact.

Wipe down grocery carts or basket handles with disinfectant wipes if you have them.

Don’t touch your face.

Wear a cloth face mask.

While waiting and after leaving the store, use hand sanitizer if you have it.

How to follow safe food handling practices during COVID-19 home quarantine?

See full answerFood safety is a prerequisite for food security and a healthy diet. Only safe food is healthy food. When preparing food for yourself and others, it is important to follow good food hygiene practices to avoid food contamination and foodborne diseases. The key principles of good food hygiene include:1. keep your hands, kitchen and utensils clean2. separate raw and cooked food, especially raw meat and fresh produce3. cook your food thoroughly4. keep your food at safe temperatures, either below 5 °C or above 60 °C; and5. use safe water and raw material.By following these five key recommendations for safer food, you can prevent many common foodborne diseases.

Should I avoid touching surfaces when shopping during the COVID-19 pandemic?

See full answerResearch suggests that COVID-19 is more commonly spread from respiratory droplets passed from people in close contact than from touching surfaces. It is possible but probably less common that those droplets land on surfaces, and then a person gets infected by touching their own mouth, nose, or eyes, after touching the surface (source). Washing your hands with soap and water (or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer) regularly and avoiding touching your face will help with this concern. Another important way to avoid getting the virus while shopping is to wear a mask and stay at least 6 feet away from others.

Why don’t people go to the grocery store anymore?

“Most people who avoid going places like the grocery store do so not necessarily because of, say, food selections, it has more to do with being in a place where escape might be difficult or embarrassing in the event of having a panic attack,” Chapman said.

Why are grocery stores bad for your mental health?

Grocery stores are filled with uncertainty — think parking spots, crowds, food decisions, malfunctioning self-checkout scanners and unbearable cashier lines. That’s why they’re a hotbed of anxiety triggers, Chapman said.

How do you deal with anxiety in the grocery store?

Lempert said stores across the country are attempting to curb anxiety through welcoming aesthetics. Some stores now use wood interiors, warm lighting and wall ivy to make shoppers more comfortable while muffling anxiety-triggering sounds like shopping carts and loud speakers.

What’s it like to go to the grocery store without a pandemic?

And that’s without a global pandemic. The coronavirus outbreak is sending shoppers to the store in doomsday-like droves. Packed aisles, noisy carts and decision-making overload ― which cause pit-in-the-stomach stress on an ordinary grocery trip ― are now at an all-time high.