Buzz
If you're tight on counter space and can't create a designated clean and dirty area, consider using your table for the groceries' dirty zone. Be sure to thoroughly sanitize the table once you've finished unpacking. Ronnie Kaufman/Getty ImagesThe phrase Wash your hands became the rallying cry of 2020. We've all learned about the significance of cleaning and sanitizing surfaces. But when your home becomes a sanctuary for staying safe, how do you introduce new items into your protected environment? We still need food and essential items, so what's the safest way to bring in groceries, takeout, and deliveries?
This question sparked Dr. Jeffrey VanWingen, a physician from Grand Rapids, Michigan, to create a viral YouTube video on how to properly disinfect groceries and food products once they enter your home. The video quickly gained over 17 million views, prompting updates and expert discussions about safe practices.
"I'm happy I sparked that conversation," he says. "As a primary care doctor, my main focus is prevention. I believe it's crucial for everyone to do their part to avoid contracting COVID-19." The reason being, each person infected statistically transmits the virus to two or three others.
"Things are changing," says VanWingen. "We're becoming more informed, and we're working to spread the best practices." One such practice is to treat your groceries like any other surface that requires sanitization.
Should You Really Disinfect Your Groceries?
Despite ongoing guidance about cleaning surfaces and washing hands, handling everyday items is not the primary method of coronavirus transmission. "It's about being in close contact with others," explains VanWingen.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that the risk of transmission from food items or packaging, which have been shipped over days or weeks in various temperatures, is "likely very low" due to the virus's limited ability to survive on surfaces.
However, the widely referenced National Institutes of Health (NIH) study revealed that coronavirus can survive in the air for up to three hours, on cardboard for 24 hours, and on hard surfaces like plastic and stainless steel for as long as 72 hours. This is why it's still recommended to wash your hands and sanitize surfaces. When groceries come from stores where multiple people may have touched them or even sneezed on them, sanitizing the packaging sounds like a smart move.
Yet, VanWingen acknowledges that the NIH study presents the worst-case scenario of how long the virus can survive in a lab environment.
"In reality, the virus deteriorates over time," he says. But with the pandemic at the forefront, people are often criticized for doing too much or too little, so he enlisted the help of his 16-year-old son, Manny, to film the video. When it comes to groceries, it's always better to err on the side of caution.
Steps to Unpack and Disinfect Your Groceries
If you have some extra time (and let's be honest, you probably do), go ahead and take that extra step to disinfect your groceries.
"People are safe at home under a stay-at-home order, but the real concern was people leaving their homes," says VanWingen. "The one thing people can do is go out and get food." In his video, he demonstrates how to unpack and sanitize your groceries using the 'sterile technique,' a method commonly used in the medical field. Here are the basic steps:
- If possible, leave your groceries outside or in the garage for three days. This allows them to remain within the 72-hour viability window established by the NIH. For shopping service deliveries, have the delivery person leave the items outside.
- If you must bring groceries in right away, especially perishables, use VanWingen's adapted sterile technique to disinfect both containers and the groceries.
- Start by sanitizing a table or countertop with a standard disinfectant, such as an EPA-approved disinfectant, like Clorox wipes or certain Lysol sprays. Designate one area as the "clean" zone and another as the "dirty" zone.
- Once you bring everything inside, place your groceries in the "dirty" zone.
- Saturate a cloth with disinfectant and begin cleaning! Hard plastic items are easy to disinfect, but other products should be removed from their packaging. For instance, take the cereal bag out of the box and discard the box. Then place the cereal bag in the clean section. You can also transfer bread from its bag into a plastic container instead of disinfecting the bread bag.
- Wash all fruits and vegetables. In an earlier version of the video, VanWingen suggested using soap and water, but he now recommends simply using water for washing.
If you need to visit the grocery store, consider wearing a mask. Also, only touch the items you plan to purchase.
Images By Tang Ming Tung/Getty ImagesGuidelines for Safe Grocery Shopping
Before you even begin unpacking those groceries, the first step is to safely acquire them. That starts with shopping safely at the store. Practice social distancing, avoid touching your face, and wash your hands as soon as you get home, VanWingen advises. Consider wearing a mask for added protection.
"One of the key benefits of wearing a mask is that it helps prevent us from transmitting the virus to others," he explains. "It also serves as a helpful reminder not to touch our face."
Although it may be tempting to take the kids along for the trip, grocery shopping is not the time. Instead, plan ahead for what you need to buy before you go, to minimize your time in the store. Avoid picking up items just to inspect them — only touch what you're planning to purchase.
Maintain at least 6 feet (roughly 2 meters) of distance from other customers and store staff. Many stores are now limiting the number of shoppers allowed inside at one time and marking specific spots to ensure safe distance in checkout lines.
Are Takeout or Drive-thru Meals Safe?
You can apply similar steps whether your food is from a takeout order or a drive-thru. The key is minimizing contact during the exchange. In a Consumer Reports article, Tobie Stanger points out that while restaurants, stores, or warehouses may be sanitized, the delivery person may not always take the same precautions. Many delivery services rely on independent contractors who are not closely monitored. If you receive a delivery at your door, handle payment and tipping electronically.
Once your meal enters the home, VanWingen advises removing it from its container or packaging. The food itself isn’t the primary concern regarding coronavirus.
"It's the packaging that I'm more worried about," he says. An even better idea is to microwave your takeout food for a short while. Heat can destabilize the virus.
Despite all the safety precautions, VanWingen emphasizes that people should not be fearful of food.
"This is not a foodborne illness," he states. "The best way to combat fear is through knowledge. If we all do our part, we can help lower the curve."
Along with the viral video on disinfecting groceries, VanWingen also shared a video titled "A Message of Hope," which garnered over 20,000 views within just two days of being posted.
