Do I need to wash the packaging of products brought from the store?

Who would have thought that someday the majority of the population of Russia will be sitting at home afraid to go out even to the store? At the time of this writing, April 1, 2020, coronavirus COVID-19 has infected more than 800,000 people around the world. Since March 30, the residents of Moscow and many other cities of our country can only go outside if necessary to buy food or medications at nearby stores and pharmacies. As the particles of coronavirus can persist on surfaces for up to three days, the question arises — is it necessary to wash the packaging of products brought from the store? The answer to this question was given by microbiologist and expert in food safety Donald Shaffner.

At the moment, evidence that coronavirus can get into the body through food, does not exist. But many people are concerned about what stores can visit the people infected with hidden symptoms and without realizing it to write on surfaces of products of virus particles. As product packaging is usually made of cardboard or plastic, the virus is may remain on their surfaces from 1 to 3 days. So what — after coming from store you have to leave food in the porch and wait until the virus dies? Of course not.

Disinfection products

According to Donald Shaffner, if people will throw purchased products in the closet or on the balcony, they can deteriorate. As a result, many can get food poisoning. His words have some truth, because most products, like fresh meat you need to put in the freezer or refrigerator. The first thing after coming from store you must wash your hands and face with soap and water, and even better — to treat them with an antibacterial agent. Then purchased the products one by one to pull out of the package and wash under running water. If the packing is dense, it can be further cleaned with antiseptic, because worse certainly will not. The products can be put in the fridge after a thorough washing, because dirty, they may relate to other products and to carry viruses.

During a pandemic, the products should be stored in the refrigerator — you don't want to go spoiled products?

Fresh fruits and vegetables require a separate approach. According to scientific publications , to wash these products with soap is not necessary, because the penetration of the particles of soap in the human body can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. But in the current circumstances you can use soap, the main thing — after washing thoroughly rinse the products. Also, instead of soap you can use baking soda. It is believed that it kills good bacteria — do not forget that in addition to the acclaimed coronavirus, there are still pathogens. Wash hands thoroughly and products it must always, only here the importance of this, many people realize only after the beginning of the pandemic.

do I Need to wash the bags?

Can coronavirus be spread through packages of stores today, no one knows. The Board Donald Shaffner simple — if they bother you, they can wash. This is especially true for reusable bags made of durable materials that can be cleaned with a damp cloth or antiseptic. Bags made of cloth can be machine washable, and disposable bags — just throw it out.

Here's how comes with packages and packages in the founder Hi-News.ru Mikhail Korolev, which during a pandemic, ordering food through a delivery service:

We ask the courier to leave all packages at the door, and when he leaves, take the food packs in the gloves and masks and bring them back to the balcony.

On the balcony, we review the packages, remove all packaging and leave them on the balcony for 3-4 days. For example, if it is a chocolate off her outer wrap and leave in the foil. Biscuit or cereal, take out cartons and leave only the inner package. If it's packaged meat, put it in the plate, and the film left on the balcony. The fruit take out of package and wash with soap and water, even berries.

The Main thing — do not miss the same hands/gloves clean and dirty. We have one removes the dirty packaging and the other relates to the kitchen. Similarly my products together.

Everything that can be frozen for a couple of days and throw in the freezer.

After 3-4 days, all that was left on the balcony, throw into the garbage.

Packaging from the cookies go in the trash, and everything inside — the kitchen

How to go to the store?

When the Russian government declared a week off, we published an article about .

From this article, you can select 5 of the rules:

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1. Before going to the store you need to dress in clothing that does not attract dust and does not absorb moisture. Still need to wear a hat to particles of the virus could not remain on the hair;
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2. to go to the store is when there is least crowded — early morning or late evening. You need to consider that during the quarantine, the workload of the stores to predict difficult, so if the room has a lot of visitors, there better not to go;
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3. Being in the shop, you need to keep people at a distance not less than 1.5 metres. People with signsdisease best avoided;
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4. it is necessary to Buy products with a long shelf life, so that through the day you should not have to go back to the store;
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5. After coming home, clothes and food, it is important to wipe with a damp cloth or, even better, an antibacterial agent.

Nothing new Donald Shaffner could not offer. He was advised before going to the store to make a list of foods to quickly buy everything you need and a quicker return home. Interesting he also mentioned that the stores of some countries, visitors are offered antiseptic. In Russia such actions have yet been seen, but if you have antibacterial agent, try to use them more often.

Particles of the coronavirus can live on surfaces for up to 3 days, but should you wash packaging from the products?