It is still safe to go grocery shopping. Saskatoon Registered Dietician Crystal Hiebert says, as long as you don’t have symptoms of COVID-19 or any illness, and have not been in contact with someone who has COVID or is suspected of having it, you are good to go. She recommends not going any more than once a week or even every two weeks, if you can.
Hiebert also suggests shopping in off-peak hours like mornings or evening. And, implement the rule, if you touch it, you buy it. In other words, don’t be indiscriminately touching all the produce. She also suggests using debit or credit instead of cash, and use self-checkout, or bag your groceries yourself. Bring hand sanitizers and wipes if you want to wipe down the carts.
She says a lot of stores have increased their cleaning and disinfecting practices. Some have put markers in line to make sure people are safe-distancing. There are also designated times for vulnerable people to shop.When you get your groceries home, she says wash your produce with running water and a vegetable brush , washing the reusable bags often, storing food properly and cooking it to safe temperatures.
Hiebert says there is no need to clean all of the food packaging. She says there is no conclusive evidence that food or food packaging is a likely source of transmission. A myth going around is that COVID survives on packaging for several hours and so you should leave your packaged food with your car for several hours before bringing it in the house.