Takeaway food in the time of Covid-19: is it safe? What if the cook is positive?

Are there any risks of contracting the Covid-19 virus by ordering at home or collecting takeaway meals? Let’s find out together.

The early closure of restaurants in the evening, and further government measures to contain the Covid-19 pandemic will force restaurants to focus on take-away food and home deliveries even during the day. It is therefore natural to wonder if the food ordered at home or the takeaway orders are safe. Am I really safe from any contamination from the SARS-CoV-2 responsible for the Covid-19 disease? And what risks would be run if the food handler, such as the cook specifically, were positive?

Covid-19: the risks for takeaway food

Even if meals were prepared by staff with Covid-19, there is little to worry about, as Paula Cannon says. Cannon is Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Keck School of Medicine, the University of Southern California’s medical training school.

In fact, the expert explained that to avoid the dangers it is enough to adopt the regular hygiene procedures foreseen for food. These rules, which even more so in this particular situation must always be monitored and respected, are already in force throughout the restaurant chain. The hygiene protocols adopted in catering and food handling, in fact, are aimed at avoiding any kind of food contamination.

Takeaway foods and Covid: here are some suggestions

Although, therefore, the chances of food contamination are very low, there are still some recommendations we can follow to further avert the risk. Taking into account the fact that the virus has a limited ability to ” survive” over time, a useful trick could be to keep it in the fridge or freeze it. In this way, by consuming the meal the following day, any contamination would be avoided.

And if, on the other hand, you have doubts about the containers in which take-away or home delivery meals are transported? There is another solution: transfer the contents to a clean container. Of course, in this case and in every situation, you must also remember to wash your hands carefully before consuming food.