Spoke to a family member today who is washing fruits and vegetables in soap water. Please DO NOT do this. You could get sick. You’re chance of getting infected from objects you bring or get at home is very small. Wrote about this before: https://twitter.com/bhalomanush/status/1247254031434645507

You should rinse fruits and vegetables with clean water (not with soap water). Discard of peels. Cook leafy vegetables properly. For canned goods, remember to clean lids before opening.

Always refrigerate or freeze meat which you will not cook within 2 hours of purchasing. Do not leave it outside for hours in warm weather to spoil with the misguided idea of getting rid of one kind of pathogen.

According the the US FDA as of today, there is “no evidence of food packaging being associated with the transmission of the coronavirus. However, if you wish, you can wipe down product packaging and allow it to air dry, as an extra precaution.”

A disinfecting product such as diluted chlorine bleach, or Dettol and water should never be ingested or used to directly wash food products you intend to consume.

I have been getting groceries once a week.

1. I maintain a distance of six feet in the store as much as possible.
2. I change clothes after coming back.
3. I wipe large packages.
4. Some wear gloves. I don’t.
4. I wear a mask. More on mask-wearing here: https://twitter.com/bhalomanush/status/1251239818790670340?s=21 https://twitter.com/bhalomanush/status/1251239818790670340

We should not be under any illusion that social distancing will end anytime soon. But we also can’t live in lockdown mode for a year. Grocery shopping requires a lot more planning. I am in the store with a list (which I discard) and out. It’s no longer recreational or impulsive.

As privileged members of society, we have a major role to play to ensure store and market workers, suppliers, and others have an ample supply of masks. The store I go to provides its workers with masks and gloves and with health checkups. Prices are higher but it’s worth it.

I’m buying more local products. I have issues with Amazon, Walmart, and other large chains and factories that did not do enough to protect their workers from large outbreaks. This will be an unpopular opinion, I know.

If you’d like to put your mind to ease on the issue. There’s no need to add anything to water when you wash fruits and vegetables. Here are multiple food microbiology experts: HuffPo, http://GlobalNews.ca , USDA general food safety factsheet