Recently, many local confirmed cases of COVID-19 were found in Beijing. According to epidemiological investigations, these cases all have a history of activities in the Xinfadi Agricultural Products Wholesale Market. Many people focus their attention on food, so——

Can viruses survive on food?

How should the purchased ingredients be disinfected?

How should we pay attention to food hygiene?

Can viruses survive on vegetables, fruits, and meat?

If the virus spreads to vegetables, meat, and fruits through droplets or direct contact, theoretically it can survive for a certain period of time, but the longest will not exceed 48 hours.

Viruses are different from bacteria. Bacteria can rapidly reproduce and replicate on dead cells, while viruses can only rely on active cells, such as human and animal cells, for reproduction and replication. Supermarket vegetables, meat, and fruits do not have the relevant conditions, so their survival time is not too long.

How to disinfect food after purchasing?

How do we disinfect the food after buying it back? Some people say that it's safer to keep food for a few more days, so do we need to put it on hold for a while?

In fact, fresh vegetables and fruits are not recommended to be left for too long before consumption, because if left for too long, they may spoil and breed a large number of bacteria, which can be harmful to the body after consumption.

Wash food with running water before consumption to filter out 80-90% of viruses attached to the surface. Remember not to eat raw, but stir fry and eat until cooked. For fruits, it is better to peel them. Viruses can be killed within 30 minutes at a temperature of 56 ℃, while stir frying and other temperatures can reach 100 ℃ or even higher, and viruses can be killed immediately.

In addition, viruses can be transmitted not only through droplets and direct contact, but also through the digestive system, so it is not recommended to eat raw foods such as cold dishes.

Pay attention to these five points when handling ingredients

01 Fresh and clean ingredients

Reserve a moderate amount of ingredients that are resistant to storage (such as root vegetables and fruits), and try not to stockpile perishable ingredients (such as green leafy vegetables). Avoid contact with live livestock and poultry, eat raw fruits and vegetables, and clean them before consumption. Do not eat food that has exceeded its shelf life.

02 Separate raw and cooked food

The utensils used for handling raw and cooked food (such as cutting boards, knives, non disposable bowls, plates, chopsticks, etc.) must be separated.

03 Cleaning and hygiene during cooking process

Wash your hands thoroughly with running water before, during, and after cooking at home. Kitchen utensils should be cleaned or disinfected promptly after use.

04 Food cooked thoroughly

When processing poultry, meat, eggs, milk and other foods, they should be fully cooked and thoroughly cooked. Try to make cold dishes as little as possible.

05 High risk population should pay more attention

Elderly, weak, sick, pregnant, and immunocompromised individuals are all high-risk groups and should pay more attention to dietary safety and nutrition.

Pay attention to these three points when storing food

The storage temperature should be suitable

Pre packaged food purchased for home use should be stored according to the storage conditions and temperature indicated on the label, and consumed within the shelf life. Food raw materials should be stored at room temperature, ventilated, refrigerated (0-5 ℃), or frozen (-18 ℃) according to their different characteristics and requirements. All cooked and perishable foods should be refrigerated or frozen in a timely manner and consumed as soon as possible.

Separate raw and cooked products for storage

Raw and cooked food should be placed separately in dedicated sealed containers or packaging bags, and avoid contact between raw and cooked food when stored in the refrigerator. Frozen food should be stored in small independent packaging as much as possible to avoid repeated melting and freezing that may cause spoilage.

The leftover food should be thoroughly heated

Try to prepare meals according to the number of diners, with minimal or no leftovers. If there are leftovers, they should be placed in a sealed container or packaging bag for refrigeration and stored at room temperature. They should be thoroughly heated before being consumed again.

Pay attention to balanced nutrition and improve immunity

In addition to paying attention to food processing and storage, it is recommended that everyone maintain a balanced nutrition in order to improve the body's immune status and enhance resistance.

Ensure a reasonable combination of meals. Daily diet should have a variety of foods, mainly grains, sufficient fruits and vegetables, moderate amounts of meat, fish, eggs, milk, etc., to ensure adequate supply of protein, fat, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, etc.

Secondly, it is important to ensure that you drink sufficient water every day. Promote the metabolism of the body.

Ensure regular eating habits. Eat in moderation and avoid overeating.

Ensure moderate exercise. Enhance physical fitness and improve immunity.

Source: China Quality Report