Food Safety Concerns in “COVID-19 Era”

Ceniti, Carlotta; Tilocca, Bruno; Britti, Domenico; Santoro, A.; Costanzo, Nicola

doi:10.3390/microbiolres12010006

Cited by 22 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 72 publications

(81 reference statements)

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“…We acknowledge that this testing recommendation is challenging, due to the lack of a reliable, inexpensive, and easy-to-use COVID-19 detection tool specifically for food [ 9 ]. We recommend, therefore, that international organizations develop guidelines for COVID-19 detection in CCF and apply inter-disciplinary methods to develop new tools of prevention [ 5 ]. It is also important to assist countries that have an insufficient detection capacity to gradually eliminate COVID-19 transmission.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since the outbreak of COVID-19, there have been continuous studies of the transmission path [ 4 ]. Air-borne transmission through breathing is a widely accepted route [ 5 ]. To our knowledge, the study of the seafood market in Wuhan, China initially considered seafood to be a potential carrier of viruses, and SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in imported CCF [ 6 , 7 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cold Chain Food and COVID-19 Transmission Risk: From the Perspective of Consumption and Trade

Zhang

Yang

Zhu

et al. 2022

Foods

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Since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), political and academic circles have focused significant attention on stopping the chain of COVID-19 transmission. In particular outbreaks related to cold chain food (CCF) have been reported, and there remains a possibility that CCF can be a carrier. Based on CCF consumption and trade matrix data, here, the “source” of COVID-19 transmission through CCF was analyzed using a complex network analysis method, informing the construction of a risk assessment model reflecting internal and external transmission dynamics. The model included the COVID-19 risk index, CCF consumption level, urbanization level, CCF trade quantity, and others. The risk level of COVID-19 transmission by CCF and the dominant risk types were analyzed at national and global scales as well as at the community level. The results were as follows. (1) The global CCF trade network is typically dominated by six core countries in six main communities, such as Indonesia, Argentina, Ukraine, Netherlands, and the USA. These locations are one of the highest sources of risk for COVID-19 transmission. (2) The risk of COVID-19 transmission by CCF in specific trade communities is higher than the global average, with the Netherlands–Germany community being at the highest level. There are eight European countries (i.e., Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, Spain, Britain, Italy, and Poland) and three American countries (namely the USA, Mexico, and Brazil) facing a very high level of COVID-19 transmission risk by CCF. (3) Of the countries, 62% are dominated by internal diffusion and 23% by external input risk. The countries with high comprehensive transmission risk mainly experience risks from external inputs. This study provides methods for tracing the source of virus transmission and provides a policy reference for preventing the chain of COVID-19 transmission by CCF and maintaining the security of the global food supply chain.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cold Chain Food and COVID-19 Transmission Risk: From the Perspective of Consumption and Trade

Zhang

Yang

Zhu

et al. 2022

Foods

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The only transmission path involving food is the packaging, which could be contaminated with coronavirus [ 137 , 138 , 139 ]. Thus, handling or consumption of contaminated food packaging carries similar risks as other surfaces known to transfer coronavirus [ 140 ].…”

Section: Covid-19 and Comorbiditiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Measures taken during the pandemic include physical distancing, providing sanitation stations to clean shared shopping equipment, and by regulating the number of customers inside the premises. Physical barriers, such as plexiglass, were deployed to separate food from any risk of danger and to protect staff at cashier point [ 140 ].…”

Section: Covid-19 and Comorbiditiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in Dietary Patterns and Clinical Health Outcomes in Different Countries during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic

et al. 2021

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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has led to an excess in community mortality across the globe. We review recent evidence on the clinical pathology of COVID-19, comorbidity factors, immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection, and factors influencing infection outcomes. The latter specifically includes diet and lifestyle factors during pandemic restrictions. We also cover the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 transmission through food products and the food chain, as well as virus persistence on different surfaces and in different environmental conditions, which were major public concerns during the initial days of the pandemic, but have since waned in public attention. We discuss useful measures to avoid the risk of SARS-CoV-2 spread through food, and approaches that may reduce the risk of contamination with the highly contagious virus. While hygienic protocols are required in food supply sectors, cleaning, disinfection, avoidance of cross-contamination across food categories, and foodstuffs at different stages of the manufacturing process are still particularly relevant because the virus persists at length on inert materials such as food packaging. Moreover, personal hygiene (frequent washing and disinfection), wearing gloves, and proper use of masks, clothes, and footwear dedicated to maintaining hygiene, provide on-site protections for food sector employees as well as supply chain intermediates and consumers. Finally, we emphasize the importance of following a healthy diet and maintaining a lifestyle that promotes physical well-being and supports healthy immune system function, especially when government movement restrictions (“lockdowns”) are implemented.

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“…Although it is not a proven food borne pathogen, COVID-19 was associated with food from different prospects since its advent. Firstly, as the initial cases were being reported from a seafood market in Wuhan city, China [ 7 , 8 ] there had been concerns about COVID-19 being transmitted through nonvegetarian foods or Chinese cuisine, food delivery, food packaging. In spite of limited evidence associated with survival of the virus on food surfaces or the risk of its transmission through ingestion of contaminated food [ 8 , 9 ], in India the situation was no different.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of ‘infodemic in pandemic’ on food and nutrition related perceptions and practices of Indian internet users

et al. 2022

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The uncontrolled spread of (mis)information, news and propaganda related to COVID 19 created an ‘infodemic’ leading to panic and unscientific practices among the mass. With the largest number of internet users in the world, India has witnessed a steep rise in the number of people seeking information on social media related to COVID-19, which reached a staggering 22.3 million by March, 2020. This study aimed to evaluate the trend of COVID-19 associated food and nutrition news search by Indian internet users between 27th January 2020 to 30th June 2021 (time period between the first detected COVID-19 case and the end of the second wave in India) and its impact on their perceptions and practices. The association between the change in Relative Search Volume (RSV) on Google Trends (GT) of 34 popularly searched keywords classified by the researchers under 5 different categories—“Immunity”, “Eating behavior”, “Food safety”, “Food scares and concerns” and “Covid scare” showed a steep rise in search for immunity boosters, vitamin supplement brands “ayush kadha (ayurvedic decoction) during the first wave (April- August 2020). With a brief period of decline in the search trend, it again hiked correspondingly with the growing number of positive cases during the second wave in India. An online survey conducted on adult Indian internet users (n = 572) reported high (71.9%) consumption of Vitamin C rich fruits as well as Vitamin C (68.2%) and Zinc (61.4%) supplements to boost immunity. Traditional Indian spices like ginger and garlic were used by 62.9% and 50.9% respondents respectively. Most respondents reported to rely on social media for gathering COVID-19 associated tips for boosting immunity, however those with history of COVID-19 infection reported to rely more on doctors and health professionals for information. This study highlights the need of media and health literacy to advocate for the use of health information cautiously.

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Food Safety Concerns in “COVID-19 Era”

Cited by 22 publications

References 72 publications

Cold Chain Food and COVID-19 Transmission Risk: From the Perspective of Consumption and Trade

Cold Chain Food and COVID-19 Transmission Risk: From the Perspective of Consumption and Trade

Changes in Dietary Patterns and Clinical Health Outcomes in Different Countries during the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic

Impact of ‘infodemic in pandemic’ on food and nutrition related perceptions and practices of Indian internet users

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