In this time we’re in, unlike any other experienced in our lifetime, I thought it would be helpful to share some sensible Coronavirus food safety tips, covering how to sanitise food and what I’m doing to ensure food safety.
SUMMARY
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Coronavirus believed to survive up to 3 days on surfaces
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Wash all fresh produce in warm soapy water
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Only eat cooked foods to be extra cautious
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For the vulnerable – extra precaution – wash all food jars and packets, and personal hygiene items that will touch your face
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Skip takeout from fast food joints. Support local restaurants by asking for takeaway food you can reheat at home.
Background
Though Coronavirus cannot be passed through food because it needs a living host to survive, it does persist on surfaces. The exact time is still unknown, but the World Health Organisation says it may be for a few hours or up to 3 days. (Excerpt here)
Accordingly, I sanitise my fresh produce – and in this post I explain how I do it.
How to sanitise food
I wash all my fresh produce (fruits and vegetables) in warm soapy water just like I’m doing the dishes. I used to use just water – or salt or vinegar for some things.
Grossed out? I was too, initially. But you can’t taste the detergent and even lettuce remains crispy if you use this method:
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Fill sink with hot water and some detergent – as though you are about to do the dishes;
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Fill a 2nd sink with cold water (or clean bucket or similar);
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Separate stems/leaves for things like spinach and lettuce for easy access to clean;
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Plunge fruit and vegetables into soapy water. Swish it around and scrub if necessary. Work in small batches to reduce time in hot water;
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Transfer into cold water to rinse off suds. Work quickly so lettuce and other perky veg doesn’t wilt;
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Dry – Pile onto dish rack and colanders to drain and dry; and
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Store as you ordinarily do.
I clean all vegetables whether I intend to cook with them or not because:
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I store all my produce bundled/piled together; and
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it is not yet known at what temperature Coronavirus is killed during cooking (or how long you have to cook for).
If you can’t be bothered or don’t have time to go through the above, I’d recommend only eating cooked foods. (Or if you want to be extra cautious) The longer you cook, the safer it gets (not yet any definitive guidance on how long you need to cook for).
Vinegar and salt – not as effective
In the past, I’d wash produce with just water, or use either salt or vinegar in a sink full of water to clean my produce. But it’s pretty well documented that while this will kill bugs and some bacteria, it doesn’t kill viruses.
Some general points
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Meat, fish, seafood – I don’t wash because they’re cooked
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Food and ingredients in cans, jars and packets – I don’t wash but see note below for vulnerable people
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Dried beans scooped from bins – cooked so I don’t wash
Vulnerable people – extra measures
I do not generally wash jars of sauces and spreads, cans of beans or packets of noodles – though today, I did wash a can of tuna I had just bought in the morning because I ate it straight out of the can (desperate food on the run!).
However, if I had a vulnerable person in my household (elderly or weak immune system) then I would wash every single item that entered the kitchen OR “quarantine” them for 3 days (eg in a box, separate fridge):
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bottles and jars of sauces, spreads
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cans of vegetables
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packets of noodles, dried beans, frozen vegetables
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bottles of fruit juice, drinks
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packets of dried herbs
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meat (wash the packet)
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toothpaste, face wash, shaving cream and any personal hygiene things that will be used on the face
Paper packaging
For things like flour and sugar that are sometimes in paper packaging (where water would soak through), I would wipe the packets down with disinfectant wipes, or spray then wipe.
Things that are cooked have an extra safety net, but it’s better to be safe than sorry!
No fast food. Make it yourself.
If there was ever a time to make homemade meals, it would be now.
Skip the fast food. KFC, Maccers, Dominos. The big chains that operate like factories who hire kids to work after school.
….BUT support your locals. MY IDEAS!!
On the other hand, as I offer advice to avoid takeout, I also feel a strong moral and sentimental obligation to support our hard working and incredibly talented hospitality industry.
Restaurant workers can’t work from home. They can’t teleconference in.
So the pandemic threatens to wipe out restaurants, cafes and bars across our country.
I believe the hygiene management practices of reputable establishments are far better than any I can do in my own home. These people are professionals!
One girl and her dog can’t save an entire industry, but she CAN offer suggestions to help support local businesses:
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Ask your favourite restaurants (no matter how fancy!) for takeaway food that can be reheated at home;
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Skip fast food. Now is not the time for Maccers or Dominos. Use your takeout budget to support the family run businesses and reputable restaurants;
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Talk to the restaurant owners and read their website – hear what they’re doing to make things safe for diners. It will bring you comfort (this is what I did at my local bistros and favourite city restaurants);
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Gift vouchers!!!
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Organise a fancy fine dining dinner party IN with your favourite people! Take out from your favourite restaurants and save a ton of money by drinking your own booze and no cab fare home! Many high end dining establishments in Sydney are now looking to offer home meals as a creative means to address their empty restaurants (here’s the Gourmet Traveller live list) – and I’m hoping this is happening around the world.
Let’s support the hard working locals who put their heart and soul into making incredible food for us to enjoy during the good times. Now it’s OUR TURN to support them during the hard times. I’m taking friends to my favourite local Afghani restaurant tomorrow night!
Stay positive – we will get through this!
To everybody who is struggling in these hard times – stay strong! We are all in it together. In my very small way, I want to try to help how I can – by trying to keep your life delicious by providing efficient meal plans and tips for smart pantry items so you don’t waste money and food on wild panic buying sprees.
If you are feeling down, leave a message on one of these posts I’ve been sharing about Coronavirus. I feel so incredibly fortunate to be part of a wonderful community of readers from all around the world who takes the time to help each other out, especially during difficult times like this.
Think positive.
Act responsibly.
Be kind to others.
Stay safe and well! – Nagi x
Life of Dozer
Available for virtual hugs, 24-7!
Nagi – You are amazing. So is Dozer. Thank you for your suggestions during this horrible COVID 19 outbreak. Love from Los Angeles MAR
Stay safe Maryann! N xx
You stay safe as well. Sending my love to you and Dozer! xox
Hi, Nagi! Thank you for these ideas about sanitizing. I have been wondering if the water/vinegar veggie wash was enough. Also, my neighborhood has been supporting our local restaurants by ordering takeout, and it’s working well. One place decided to donate 100% of any gift card sales to it’s employees, since they haven’t any income right now. Yet another creative way we can help take care of each other. Lastly, I’m really sorry we laughed at you all about the toilet paper thing last month. Signed, TP-less in USA
You are an inspiration Nagy! Thank you for your ideas, tips and info. As always your posts are helpful, informative and sprinkled with humour.
Thanks Nagi for all the efforts that you have made to keep us all safe and well fed. You surely make it a lot easier😍
Thank you for such an informative blog. I love your site. Your upbeat tone is helping keep us all less stressed.
Thanks for the timely post! I would still wipe down the plastic around or meat or fish before putting it in the fridge. Or pop the whole package into a clean zip-top bag. I often split these items into smaller portions anyway, into those bags. Then I don’t have to deal with store packaging just before I cook it (even tho I wash my hands before and after just the same!).
Hi Nagi, I am such a fan of your delicious food. I would like to offer a suggestion… for cleaning your food. Hydrogen Peroxide. You don’t need a lot but it is very good for sanitizing.
Thank You Nagi!! Be Well!!
Sending Love from Georgia, USA
and if you can grow some things ,containers, Swiss chard will grow all spring and summer ,carrots ,beets for greens and root , bush beans , grow bags can be bought on line placed on patio one tomato plant will grow in a bag , 4 Swiss chard in another 6 kale 50 carrots 10 lettuce etc seed at bakers creek and victory seed Go Grow eat better ….
Hi Nagi,
It’s so good to see your posts, read your stories, and, of course, catch up with your hunk of charming, Dozer! I think Dozer will be very busy with his virtual hugs. Hope you are doing well and staying safe. Have Dozer put me on his list! Love to both of you, and Momma RTEs too!
Hiya this is the most Bizarre thing ive ever heard NO NO NO NO! 👎
This Will lead to stomach upsets and diaherria!
Best way of cleaning vegetables is to use bicarbonate of soda in water.
Way better and more natural than soapy water,or even worse bleach !!👍
Baking soda is good against Pesticides and bacteria. But it has not yet been shown to be effective against viruses.
If the fruit and vegetables are rinsed well as Nagy has indicated, there would be no soap left on them to upset your tummy or give you diarrhoea which I would consider highly unlikely. I’d rather have a bit of that than virus vegetables.
Hiya there’s already a layer of yuk on the outer layers and detergent won’t remove it, hence a natural cleaning agent is best for the product and well-being. The issue of which method of cleaning vegetables is highly debatable and on-going.
Appreciate your comment!
Stay safe x
Thank you for this post.. it made me wonder yesterday what I should be doing about produce. I mean here we are scrubbing our hands like crazy and produce that could potentially be subject to many hands gets a rinse.
Stay healthy, Nagi.
Thank you. You are so kind to explain all these safety details with fresh produce and groceries. Here in Puerto Rico we are only allowed to go out for groceries or medicines and can be fined up to 5000$ or 6 months in jail if we do not respect the 9 pm to 5 am curfew. All your tips are wonderful. Thank you for taking the time to do this and for allowing us to express ourselves with questions and comments. You are an amazing human being. God bless you and you family with safety, health, and abundance of all that is good!
You are an earth angel 🙂
Hi Nagi, greetings from Malta. Thanks for all the delicious recipes and the information you post for us.
Much appreciated. 🥰
Your blog is the first one I open! And thank you for your positive and helpful attitude. Your are an inspiration to us all. Stay safe yourself and give lots of hugs and kisses to Dozer.
Thank you so much for your concern for all during this difficult time. Your effects are so appreciated. I’ve been following you and your delicious recipes for sometime now. Thank you❤️
Nagi, other than emails from my son on the other side of the country, your post is always the first one I open because they are always entertaining, informative, and there’s always Dozer. I’ve learned so much from you and your community. To all the readers, God bless you and keep you safe.
Hi Nagi! Thank you for this. I wash my produce with a sink full of water and a teaspoon of bleach. My father was a chemical engineer and this is how we treated our well water once we brought it into the house and into bottles.
Interesting! I was a nurse in my younger days- Clorox 1/4 cup to one gallon of water is what was used between patients on all surfaces ( chair, armrests, etc). It kills hepatitis B.
Thank you so much for all you do, Nagi! I love reading your posts and seeing Dozer. Definitely brightens my day!