Whether in-store or online, grocery shopping could lead to COVID-19 exposure. But experts say there are ways to limit the risk.
The CDC says there's a low risk of coronavirus transmission from food packaging. But studies have shown that the virus can survive between several hours to several days outside the body, depending on the surfaces.
So, after grocery shopping, it can't hurt to wipe down food packaged in glass containers or cardboard boxes with a disinfectant wipe. Be sure to move groceries from a "dirty" pile to a "clean" pile after disinfecting to prevent cross-contamination.
Remember to wash all produce with water before consuming, just as usually recommended.
Once the groceries are put away, throw away any plastic grocery bags — they could contain germs. Also, be sure to wash reusable bags in the laundry machine and disinfect the area on which groceries were sorted.
And, as always, be sure to wash your hands when you're done.
