Key TakeawaysA recent survey found that some food companies are unprepared to ensure food safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.Food safety issues can emerge due to multiple reasons but often stem from a company’s food safety culture.The chance of getting COVID-19 through food is low. Consumers can also take precautions, such as washing produce.

Key Takeaways

A recent survey found that some food companies are unprepared to ensure food safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.Food safety issues can emerge due to multiple reasons but often stem from a company’s food safety culture.The chance of getting COVID-19 through food is low. Consumers can also take precautions, such as washing produce.

The results of a multi-country survey have revealed that some food companies are struggling to ensure food safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study, which is set to be published in the journalFood Controlin April, has sparked concerns about the risk of COVID-19 transmission through food.

According to the study, 65% of the 825 companies surveyed had a certified food safety plan to implement COVID-19 prevention measures. However, 22% of the companies had only basic safety plans in place, and 12% had no plan at all.

FDA Temporarily Loosens Food Label Requirements Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

“The pandemic heightened emphasis on food safety, sometimes even as a result of negative press, such as notable examples in the meatpacking industry.“Deane Falcone,chief scientific officer at Crop One, a company in the vertical farming space that grows produce using hydroponic technology, tells Verywell. “My expectation is that food companies are more aware of food safety and the practices that all individuals should adhere to.”

What This Means For YouCOVID-19 is spread mainly throughrespiratory transmission, but it is possible to get infected if you touch contaminated food or a food surface, then touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, many players in the food industry—from farms to grocery stores—have become increasingly concerned about food safety. While not all companies have plans in place, you can wash your own produce and products.

What This Means For You

COVID-19 is spread mainly throughrespiratory transmission, but it is possible to get infected if you touch contaminated food or a food surface, then touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, many players in the food industry—from farms to grocery stores—have become increasingly concerned about food safety. While not all companies have plans in place, you can wash your own produce and products.

The Study

From the beginning of the pandemic, organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) have released recommendations for reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission from food companies to consumers.

Neil CooleThe common factor in every food safety incident, risk, or recall is people.

Neil Coole

The common factor in every food safety incident, risk, or recall is people.

These recommendations include:

The results of the survey indicated that smaller companies have found it harder to implement the WHO’s recommendations because they have less staff and limited financial resources compared to larger companies.

The medium to large-sized companies could afford more PPE and implement more rigorous hygiene practices. Nevertheless, the study’s researchers say that none of the companies surveyed reported food safety problems—such as a disease outbreak—amid the pandemic.

Falcone says that COVID-19 has impacted how the food industry views airborne infectious illnesses, such as COVID-19. “In our indoor farming operation, all personnel involved in direct produce handling, of course, wear protective face masks,” he says, adding this his company, Crop One, will continue to require mask-wearing even after the pandemic.

Barriers to Food Safety

Overall, the study’s findings highlight that food companies not only face obstacles dealing with COVID-19, but with food safety in general. Furthermore, problems can crop up at different points in the process.

The food you eat undergoes several steps before it reaches your table.

At any step in the process, food can get contaminated with harmful germs, such as E. coli and Salmonella. Therefore, companies need to have a food safety plan that can help them prevent food contamination and address emergencies (such as a pandemic) if necessary.

Food Safety During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“The food industry is one of the most regulated industries globally; however, food safety issues continue to occur like clockwork around the world year after year,” Neil Coole, the director of food and retail supply chain at BSI, tells Verywell.

Coole says that companies encounter food safety issues, such as disease outbreaks, for a variety of reasons, including:

How Food Companies Can Improve

Any company, regardless of size, can work on improving food safety—even amid a pandemic. “We need to understand that the common factor in every food safety incident, risk, or recall is people,” Coole says, adding that improvement in the food industry begins with adopting a culture of food safety.

COVID-19 Food Transmission Risk Is Low

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that the risk of getting COVID-19 from food is very low.

Falcone agrees but adds a caveat. “Certainly, washing fruits and vegetables would be beneficial, but more from the removal of other potential microbes such as E. coli on such produce than from possible COVID-19 contamination.”

Food safety has always been a top concern for the food industry, but the COVID-19 pandemic has brought more attention to food safety management.

Experts say that the risk of getting COVID-19 through food is low. Still, it might give you some peace of mind to know that many food companies are doing their best to ensure that you’re protected from COVID-19—and other potentially harmful germs as well.

Food Safety 101

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.

4 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Djekica I, Nikolićb A, Uzunovićb M, Marijkec A, Liud A, Hand J, et al.Covid-19 pandemic effects on food safety - multi-country survey study.Food Control. 2020;122:107800. doi:10.1016/j.foodcont.2020.107800World Health Organization (WHO).COVID-19 and food safety: guidance for food businesses.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).How food gets contaminated - the food production chain.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Food and coronavirus disease 2019.

4 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Djekica I, Nikolićb A, Uzunovićb M, Marijkec A, Liud A, Hand J, et al.Covid-19 pandemic effects on food safety - multi-country survey study.Food Control. 2020;122:107800. doi:10.1016/j.foodcont.2020.107800World Health Organization (WHO).COVID-19 and food safety: guidance for food businesses.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).How food gets contaminated - the food production chain.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Food and coronavirus disease 2019.

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Djekica I, Nikolićb A, Uzunovićb M, Marijkec A, Liud A, Hand J, et al.Covid-19 pandemic effects on food safety - multi-country survey study.Food Control. 2020;122:107800. doi:10.1016/j.foodcont.2020.107800World Health Organization (WHO).COVID-19 and food safety: guidance for food businesses.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).How food gets contaminated - the food production chain.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Food and coronavirus disease 2019.

Djekica I, Nikolićb A, Uzunovićb M, Marijkec A, Liud A, Hand J, et al.Covid-19 pandemic effects on food safety - multi-country survey study.Food Control. 2020;122:107800. doi:10.1016/j.foodcont.2020.107800

World Health Organization (WHO).COVID-19 and food safety: guidance for food businesses.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).How food gets contaminated - the food production chain.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Food and coronavirus disease 2019.

Meet Our Medical Expert Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit

What is your feedback?