Coronavirus: frozen food firms as culprit in two outbreaks in China, sparking warning over cold impo

[Klaralven]

Coronavirus: frozen food firms as culprit in two outbreaks in China, sparking warning over cold imports

China has warned of Covid-19 risks from the handling of imported cold-chain foods and stepped up its control measures following studies showing strong links to local outbreaks in Beijing and Qingdao.

The warning came after epidemiological investigators pinned down the outbreak in Beijing in June, involving 335 cases, to imported salmon sold from a booth in a wholesale food market.

Investigators published their findings in the National Science Review on Friday, saying the result was “particularly important” for countries where community transmissions were contained or suppressed and that a Covid-19 outbreak could start from the cold-chain transport of contaminated items.

This month, the Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention detected and isolated living Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, on the outer packaging of frozen cod handled by two port workers in Qingdao who became infected in September.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3107429/coronavirus-frozen-food-firms-culprit-two-outbreaks-china

[Delmette2.0]

1. What does that mean for U.S. meat processing plants?

Can our meat supply be contaminated because management's don't enforce proper PPE and pay sick leave?

[Trueblue Texan]

5. Meat is usually cooked before eating...

I've been in practice of wiping ALL grocery products with bleach wipes. And I'd rather have bagged produce than loose produce. But generally, I'm concentrating our meals around fresh foods that will be cooked.

[In_The_Wind]

6. I started questioning that months ago.

https://democraticunderground.com/100213328935

[Klaralven]

8. From an epidemiological point of view, not much. There is too much other spread in the US.

This is mainly important for countries in East Asia that have the virus well controlled. It is a way that new clusters occur and cause a lot of test, trace, and isolate work to stamp out the outbreaks. The US has given up on control.

From a personal pint of view, always wash hands after handling frozen food packages or meat. Always cook meat to kill bacteria and viruses of all sorts. Sushi is probably a bad idea except as an occasional treat in a well-run Asian restaurant.

[Delmette2.0]

10. Thank you

I always cook my. meat, sometimes to much. Better safe than sorry. It's a good reminder to wash your hands after handeling frozen food packages.

[LisaL]

2. I bet the same thing happened in New Zealand.

As far as I know, they never figured out how they got the second outbreak, but some of the infected people in the cluster worked at cold storage facility that was getting packages from all over the world.
I think it's pretty clear covid does transmit from surfaces (even if this is not the major mode of transmission). And cold temperatures preserve the virus, allowing it to survive longer on surfaces.

[In_The_Wind]

3. I've been washing the plastic food baggies before opening.

just sayin'

[Sanity Claws]

7. not a bad idea

What do you use to wash the plastic?
I wonder how tight the seals are in some products and am reluctant to wash the plastic. I'm thinking in particular of frozen dinners which have a plastic seal over the top.

[In_The_Wind]

9. Soap and water.

I transfer the contents into pyrex cookware before cooking.

As to plastic covered frozen foods: transfer to pyrex and cook without washing the frozen products.

Many of my meals are prepared and sold at Aldi.

[lunasun]

4. Cold temp low humidity

Researchers found that both lower temperatures and lower humidity helped viruses survive longer. In particular, at 4 degrees C, or 40 degrees F, and 20% relative humidity, more than two thirds of the viruses survived for 28 days.

FAQ - New Jersey COVID-19 Information Hub - NJ.gov