Can COVID-19 be passed on through food?
There is no evidence to suggest that COVID-19 is passed on through food. The main risk of transmission is from close contact with infected people. The advice to food businesses and consumers is to maintain good hygiene practices and to wash your hands regularly. Thorough cooking will kill the virus.
How is COVID-19 passed on?
The virus is commonly passed on:
directly, through contact with an infected person’s body fluids (for example, droplets from coughing or sneezing
indirectly, through contact with surfaces that an infected person has coughed or sneezed on
Current information suggests that the virus could survive up to 72 hours (3 days) on hard surfaces depending on the material. However, the numbers of virus will reduce considerably over that time as it dies off. Simple household disinfectants can kill it.
What can food workers do to prevent the spread of COVID-19?