The World Health Organization said Thursday that there is “no evidence” that the coronavirus is transmitted through food.
Researchers in China are investigating the problem, and the international agency is following its findings, said Dr. Mike Ryan, Executive Director of the WHO Emergency Program, during a press conference at Geneva’s headquarters. But at the moment “there is no evidence that food like the food chain is involved in the transmission of this virus,” he said.
“People should not be afraid of food, or food packaging or processing or delivery of food. Food is very important. And I would hate to think that we would create the impression that there is a problem with our food or that there is a problem with us. “We are under enough pressure as it is,” he said.
Three cities in China have reported that the virus has found its way onto the surface of imported frozen food over the past four days, worrying that the virus could be transmitted through food and could lead to new outbreaks, according to NBC News.
WHO officials said Chinese health authorities had tested “several hundred thousand” samples of frozen food and found “very, very few” tests returned positive. Officials said they had issued guidance to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on how traders can work safely with food.
Even if the virus is transmitted through food, which evidence does not suggest, it can be killed before it is eaten, said Maria Van Kerkhove, head of the emerging diseases and zoonosis unit of the WHO.
“If the virus is actually in food, and we have no examples of where this virus was transmitted as food, while someone has consumed a food product, the viruses like other viruses can also be killed, then can be killed when the meat becomes cooked, ‘she said.
“People are scared enough, scared enough in the Covid pandemic,” Ryan said. It is important that we follow findings like this and it is important that we do not forget scientific evidence where we find it. But it is also important that people can continue without their fear. “
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