The good news: coronavirus is not edible. That means you can't get it by swallowing food. You can get it from people, of course, from those who sneeze, cough or have a positive response to the virus. That is why we have been told not to touch others, nor to stand too close to others and to wash our hands often.
But as we stay home, should we worry about how we consume food? What if someone sneezes into your apple? Can you still eat your favorite steak? What about Sushi - is it safe to eat?
We asked two food scientists at Rutgers University, program director Donald Schaffner and professor Thomas Montville. Here are their answers:
Question: Experts say coronavirus is not edible. However, they strongly suspect cattle in China in a food market, not least, they were a potential source of initial infection. So doesn't that mean it's food?
Donald Schaffner: It is thought that the virus is transmitted by animals not by eating them but by being close to them. Viruses can jump between species and this is what is likely to have happened. Most likely it was a breath broadcast.
Q: Do I need to wash fruits and vegetables for a longer time due to coronavirus? Should we clean them with soap?
Thomas Montville: Wash your fruits and vegetables as usual, or even with a little warm soda water. We should always wash our fruits and vegetables. This is simply good security practice.
Q: What about meat? While the virus is not infected, what if the butcher has coronavirus and affects the meat? Can I get the virus now?
Schaffner: Scientists will never say that nothing is at stake, but I'm not worried at all about getting the coronavirus out of food. Hypothetically, yes, maybe a piece of meat might have the virus in it. But stomach acids will kill it. Plus the coronavirus is not equipped to pass through the walls of your intestines, which is how eating disorders make you sick.
Q: What about raw foods, like Sushi or Tartar?
Montville: You will never find a food scientist eating tartar. May be contaminated with pathogenic bacteria - E. coli, salmonella, listeria. As for Sushi, I just don't eat it.
