This Article is From Apr 03, 2020

Coronavirus Prevention Tips: How To Clean Your Groceries During The Coronavirus Outbreak? Our Experts Tell

Tips for Coronavirus: The novel coronavirus is not thought to be transmissible via food, but it can stay on surfaces for several days. It is thus important that you wash groceries before using them. Read here to know what experts have to say.

Coronavirus Prevention Tips: How To Clean Your Groceries During The Coronavirus Outbreak? Our Experts Tell

Coronavirus, COVID-19 tips: Wash your hands before you wash groceries

Highlights

  • Discard the container that you bought groceries in, in a closed dustbin
  • Wash your hands after discarding the container
  • Wash vegetables thoroughly before cooking

Coronavirus, COVID-19 prevention tips: Coronavirus lockdown and prevention requires all of us to stay indoors and maintain social distancing. But we need to step out to buy essentials like groceries and medicines. The novel coronavirus is not thought to be transmissible via food, but it can stay on surfaces for several days, including packaging material for foods. It is thus necessary to take extra care and other precautionary measures while going grocery shopping as well as when handling and storing groceries at home. Our expert shares tips on how we can do this and prevent the spread of the virus.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) tips: Grocery shopping tips you must follow

The first and foremost thing that you need to do whenever you are stepping out is wearing a mask and carrying a sanitiser with you. Dr P. Raghu Ram, President of The Association of Surgeons of India, shares the following tips as part of shopping advisory in times of coronavirus outbreak:

1. Groceries must be washed copiously with water. Anything that you bring from outside has to be considered to be potentially infected.

2. Before washing groceries, do wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.

3. Also wash your hands after cooking or after you do the dishes.

4. Make sure that you discard the container of groceries in a closed dustbin. This should be done after washing your hands. After having discarded the container, wash your hands again.

5. Wash your hands before and after cooking vegetables.

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Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds
Photo Credit: iStock

Also read: Coronavirus Quarantine Tips: Nutritionist Nmami Agarwal Shares A Weekly Diet Plan For The Lockdown Period


Nutritionist Nmami Agarwal says that you need to maintain a distance of six feet (2 metres) social distance while you are shopping. "Limit grocery visits to once in two weeks, if possible," she recommends.

Coronavirus shopping tips: Here are the other things she recommends for safe shopping (of essentials)

  • Ensure only one member of the house, preferably the healthiest, goes out to buy essentials.
  • Keep a sanitiser handy with you and avoid touching surfaces.
  • Sanitise or wash hands after touching shopping carts, handles, or payment machines.
  • Try to make cashless payments as the exchange of currency can be a potential risk factor.
  • Use disposable gloves if you have them.
  • Once back home, leave the shopping containers outside and consider taking a shower in the meanwhile.
  • "Preliminary research shows coronavirus can survive on cardboard for 24 hours and on plastic for 72 hours. So, it's best to use the items after this duration. Spray and wipe plastic or glass containers with bleach [carefully diluted)," Agarwal says.
  • At this point, there's no evidence that transmission is happening through food packaging, but prevention is the key.
  • For unwrapped fresh goods, which could have been handled by anyone - wash thoroughly under running water and leave to dry. "According to USDA (US Department of Agriculture), there is no need to wash fruits and vegetables with detergent or soap but few healthcare experts are recommending it. You may use ozone-based fruits/ vegetable cleansers or you may soak fruits, vegetables in diluted vinegar, salt or lemon water for few hours and then leave to dry. Washing fruits/ vegetables with soap and water is still a debatable topic. Never use a bleach solution to wash fruits/ vegetables," she adds.
  • Your biggest risk from groceries and coronavirus is the time that you spend in the grocery store around people, so keep your visits short and sorted.
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Wash your hands before and after cooking
Photo Credit: iStock

Other tips to keep in mind

  • If you are experiencing any symptoms, then avoid going out for shopping essentials. Ask someone else in the family to go and maintain social distancing.
  • People above the age of 60 are advised to get their groceries delivered. Ask the delivery person to leave the bags outside.
  • Clean high-touch surfaces at home regularly. These include the likes of door knobs and light switches.
  • Stay indoors and stay safe. Maintain social distancing and avoid going out unless entirely necessary.

Also read: Coronavirus: Who All Are More Susceptible To COVID-19? WHO Tells

(Dr P. Raghu Ram is President, The Association of Surgeons Of India)

(Nmami Agarwal is nutritionist at Nmami Life)

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.

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