Covid-19 is still a mystery to the world community and so far there is no evidence that it transmits through food or drink. Established mode of transmission is droplet infection. Questions may arise if droplets are on vegetables or fruits how can we make them disinfected or safe.
Use fresh vegetable and fruit, avoid over-ripe or rotten products, wash them well before using them raw or before cooking.
The best way is to buy directly from the source (if possible) or wash it when bringing home properly. Our families are washing each vegetables and fruits before even stocking it in refrigerator.
Thank you dear Abu Bashar for sharing your observation and practices.
As before COVID-19, fruits and vegetables should always be washed thoroughly with plenty of water.
Ensuring sanitation in every steps of handling ensures safe from covid-19.
There is so far no evidence that COVID-19 can be transmitted through handling and eating food. The main route of transmission is from person to person, mainly via droplets and particularly aerosols emitted by infected people. Nevertheless, for precautionary reasons, food should be handled by producers, retailers and consumers with the necessary hygienic measures, e.g.regular hand washing/desinfection and using disposable gloves.
What i do i soak them in water and 1:10 amount of vinegar for sometime (5 to 10 min) and after that i wash them with running water peice by peice. i make the water to run on some vegitables like lattice. I start eating from them in the next day. I am trying to minimize any possibiliy of any infection to happen, although we know there is no evidence till now for that kind of infection.
Thank you dear Mostafa Rashdan for sharing your good practices.
Insightful question. I think it is better to be safe than sorry. I always wash the fruits and vegetables as much as I can. I also steam/boil vegetables where possible.
Thank you dear Tsvakai Gama for sharing your comments and some very useful practices.
Q. Are foods eaten raw, like fruits and vegetables, safe?
It’s theoretically possible that if someone who’s infected sneezes directly on an apple, you pick up that apple and then touch your face, you could get infected. “But you’re much more likely to get infected standing next to that person at the apple bin,” Schaffner says. That’s why social distancing requires putting at least 6 feet of space between you and other people. And why you should wash or sanitize your hands as soon as possible after touching things at the grocery store. “Those are the biggest things you can do to mitigate your risk,” Schaffner says. And if you are concerned, you can eat cooked produce instead of raw.
Q. Should you wash produce any differently from your normal method?
That’s not necessary. Just wash fruits and vegetables in water, using a vegetable brush if you like on hard produce, such as apples or potatoes. “I don’t recommend washing produce with soap or diluted bleach solution, both of which can cause stomach upset,” Schaffner says. Vinegar won’t kill the virus, and there’s no evidence that vegetable washes do, either
It's as simple as just washing them. If you are still worried then soak them in vinegar water for a minute when you bring them home.