The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Seafood Safety and Human Health

Abstract

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic caused several negative impacts on global human health and the world’s economy. Food and seafood safety and security were among the principal challenges and causes of concern for the food industry and consumers during the spread of this global pandemic. This article focused on the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on potential safety issues with seafood products and their processing methods. Moreover, the potential impacts of coronavirus transmission through seafood on human health were evaluated. The role of authenticity, traceability, and antimicrobials from natural sources to preserve seafood and the possible interaction of functional foods on the human immune system are also discussed. Although seafood is not considered a principal vector of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, the possible infections through contaminated surfaces of such food products cannot be neglected. The positive effects of seafood consumption on possible immunity built up, and COVID-19 are also summarized.

The impacts of COVID-19 on seafood prices in Japan: A comparison between cheap and luxury products

“…Furthermore, there are previous studies investigating the impacts of human mobility changes related to COVID-19 on markets other than seafood such as those examining the effects on Japanese fuel prices [26], levels of CO 2 emissions [27], agricultural commodity markets in developing economies [28], and food prices in Europe [29], seafood safety and human health [30], and policy response to COVID-19 in the ASEAN region [31]. For a study examining the impact of the pandemic on Japanese fisheries, Sugimoto et al [32] surveyed stakeholders of Japanese fisheries including scientists involved in the seafood business and fisheries sector to reveal negative changes in 2020 sales compared to a year earlier caused by the pandemic.…”

After the pandemic: the global seafood trade market forecasts in 2030

“…The decline in demand for seafood has led to fewer wage opportunities, while increased costs of transportation have led to either oversupply or wastage, leaving those in low-income groups vulnerable to poverty and malnutrition. The outlook of pandemic impacts is still overwhelmingly dominated by uncertainty, the global seafood market is thus calling for economic stimulus and plans for long-term changes in the seafood market landscape (Rathod et al, 2022).…”

Desarrollo e implementación de una metodología para evaluar sistemas nacionales de inocuidad alimentaria en productos de origen animal

“…Los efectos de enfermedades víricas emergentes que han demostrado poseer persistencia en distintas superficies dentro de las plantas de faena o los empaque de los alimentos, también deben considerarse. Esto último es clave, especialmente por la capacidad de organismos como la COVID-19 para permanecer en ellos por largos periodos y que al mismo tiempo pueden tener impactos significativos sobre la comercialización, disponibilidad y acceso a ciertos productos de origen animal destinados al consumo humano (Ceniti, Tilocca, Britti, Santoro & Costanzo, 2021;Rathod et al, 2022).…”