Amid the second wave of Covid-19, we all are trying something or the other to boost our immunity. While practicing home food safety and good personal hygiene are always important but along with that handwashing is especially critical in reducing the spread of COVID-19 and should be done often.
Hence, before preparing or eating food, it’s important to wash your hands with clean water and soap for a minimum of 20 seconds.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there is currently no evidence to suggest that COVID-19 can be transmitted through food or food packaging, but sharing food and beverages is discouraged.
It is believed that the virus spreads from person-to-person contact or through close contact or respiratory droplets for example when a person coughs or sneezes. However, it may be possible for viruses to survive on surfaces and objects, reinforcing the need to observe proper hygiene and food safety practices.
“The immune system does depend on qualitative nutrition. In a pandemic, it is important that the right food, its safety is key. The nutrition industry is advised to not indulge in fortifying food with specialty ingredients with immunity claims unless there is a study establishing efficacy and safety. It’s a complex biochemistry and hence should be treated carefully, “Amit Srivastava, Chief Catalyst and Founder, Nutrify Today.
Hence it is advised that you must wash your hands after being out in the public or before touching your face, coughing, sneezing, blowing your nose or using the bathroom. Use hand sanitizer if handwashing is not an option with a 60-percent alcohol may be used until soap and water become available.
Regular handwashing of hands, along with everyday cleaning and disinfecting, especially all frequently touched surfaces that remain the most effective ways to reduce the spread of coronavirus.
When ordering takeout or having food delivered practice social distancing, maintaining a distance of six feet, whenever possible.
While preparing food proper food safety practices should always be executed. This includes frequently washing hands with soap and water and washing surfaces and utensils with hot soapy water after each use.
