Can coronavirus spread through food? China claims shrimp packages test positive for COVID-19

The number of positive coronavirus infections is inching closer to the 13 million mark and the highly infectious contagion has also caused 5,69,128 deaths across the globe. However, as we continue learning more about the virus with every passing day, we are beginning to understand that the way the virus spreads is not particularly restricted to respiratory droplets from the mouth and nose of an infected person or direct/indirect contact with the infected individual. Recently, the World Health Organization agreed that there is mounting evidence that the airborne spread of SARS CoV2 virus can occur, especially in health care and indoor settings with poor ventilation.

While there are still a host of questions and doubts about the transmission methods of the highly contagious virus, China has noted that a few shrimp packages tested positive for coronavirus, according to a media report. This incident has given rise to the questions that whether or not, the novel coronavirus can be spread through food or food packaging. It should be noted that according to the World Health Organization, it is highly unlikely to contract COVID-19 through food or food packaging as the coronavirus needs an animal or a human host to multiply.

As per a report published in Bloomberg, the coronavirus was tested positive on the outside of five shrimp packages and was even found inside one of the shipping containers. It is believed that all the samples were from the three Ecuadorian plants and as of now importing from the plants have been put on hold. As expected, the bizarre incident has raised fresh speculations over the transmission of novel coronavirus through food and food packaging, even though global health agencies have reinstated that the risk is quite low.

Bi Kexin, director of the food import and export safety bureau in the customs department, further elaborated, “The test result doesn’t mean the virus is contagious but reflects the loopholes in companies’ food safety regulations. Customs will further strengthen control of the origins of imported cold-chain food. ”