Impacts Of Covid-19 On The Food Industry

Impacts of COVID-19 on the Food Industry

What We Know

The virus: We know that this pandemic is an outbreak of a respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus. It was first detected in China and has now spread globally, including to the United States. Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common in people and many different species of animals. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections, ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Transmission: We also know that the disease can be transmitted from person to person through small droplets expelled from the nose or mouth of a person infected with COVID-19; these droplets are spread when the infected person coughs or exhales and can land on objects and surfaces nearby. Other people can then catch COVID-19 by touching these objects or surfaces and then touching their eyes, nose, or mouth. People can also catch the disease if they breathe in the droplets.

Impact on food and water: Does the virus transmit via food or water? The current information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says no, the virus is not transmitted via food or water.