Covid-19 is an infectious disease that spreads through human contact when a person comes in contact with another infected person. The virus can spread through an infected person’s mouth or nose when they sneeze, or through surfaces like a doorknob, handrail or a table. A person can get infected by touching these contaminated surfaces, then touching their mouth, eyes or face without cleaning their hands first. The first positive case of coronavirus in India was reported in Kerala in January 2020 when a student from Wuhan university travelled to India and got infected by the virus.
During the pandemic, people have been involved in a lot of activities like cooking, yoga, binge-watching movies and TV shows etc. Everyone stayed at home and performed social distancing while getting to spend time with their families.
People were concerned about their health and followed the protocols to keep their loved ones safe from coronavirus. Eating a healthy diet was very important during COVID-19 to maintain immunity and stay fit.
Because people are cautious, they have a lot of questions about the virus and whether COVID-19 can spread through food or not?
Read the article further to find out.
Can coronavirus spread through food?
Every time you go out to buy food or order supplies online, there is a fear of getting infected and risking the health of our families. The fear is perfectly rational. According to the World Health Organization and other experts, there has been no scientifically proved evidence yet that corona can spread through food. A person needs to come in contact with a person with coronavirus to get infected. But it is essential to perform good hygiene while handling food or food packages since it has not been proved that food does not spread the virus.
There is good news that the chances of getting COVID-19 from food are low. Although it is better to be safe than sorry. So, here are a few things that you should keep in mind while handling food and food packages.
Guidelines
- Cook the food thoroughly and wash your hands with soap before eating or preparing food.
- Wash your hands properly while handling food packages, if ordering food or grocery from outside.
- Peel off the outermost layers of the fruits and vegetables is possible.
- Use fresh and safe raw materials while preparing food. If using fruits and vegetables, then wash them with water especially if eating raw. Use a scrub to clean them thoroughly.
- If cooking foods such as eggs, meat or poultry, a temperature of at least 70 degrees should be maintained to kill the germs or viruses found in food.
- Germs may stay on fruits, vegetables and other products that everybody touches in grocery stores. Although, it is not sure that someone could get corona from this. But to be safe you must perform social distancing and avoid touching your face while grocery shopping. If possible then sanitize the trolley handles or baskets before using. Also, wash your hands thoroughly after handling store-bought products.
- Avoid eating at unhygienic places even after lockdown.
Maintaining a healthy diet is important to fight the virus and here are a few tips that you can follow.
Tips for a healthy diet during corona
- Stay hydrated and drink plenty of water.
Staying hydrated is very important to stay healthy. Drink lots of water that is fresh and safe whenever possible.
- Eat fruits and vegetables.
Eat whole-grain food like Maize, whole-wheat, oats and brown rice. Also, eat food rich in protein and other vitamins and minerals. Eat fruits and vegetables as snacks.
- Cut back on salt and sugar intake.
Cut back on salt intake while preparing food. Use herbs and spices for flavours instead.
Limit eating sugar in food like carbonated drinks, candies, chocolates and coffee. You can have fresh fruits and freshly squeezed juices instead.
- Avoid drinking alcohol.
Alcohol is not a healthy drink and having too much of it can lead to liver problems or even cancer. Alcohol consumption does not prevent corona.
- Reduce fat intake
Fat is important but in moderation. More than 30% of fat intake in a day can lead to unhealthy weight gain. To reduce fat intake, eat less butter, oil and ghee. Eat less sugary and less fried food.
As of now, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 spread through food but staying a step ahead is always a better option.
Discussion about this post