- Joined
- Oct 23, 2011
- Messages
- 7,422
Do you disinfect your groceries? How do you do it?
- Thread starter mellowyellowgirl
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2005
- Messages
- 34,593
The produce that I find the most soil, and sand, in is fresh spinach.
Sometimes large clods of it.
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2009
- Messages
- 4,602
Can you please explain the “jump?” How is it jumping intermediate species to human? Wouldn’t eating the species qualify as a jump?
I heard the lab theory too. It does seem more viable but since they haven’t confirmed any source of this virus, I feel it is best to be safe than sorry when it comes to transmission. Logically, we can say it’s a respiratory virus and if we eat it, we shouldn’t get it, but why take the risk when we don’t have to?
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2008
- Messages
- 56,748
Good question. The FDA is maintaining their stance on it and this is what they are still saying.
"
Currently there is no evidence of food or food packaging being associated with transmission of COVID-19.
Unlike foodborne gastrointestinal (GI) viruses like norovirus and hepatitis A that often make people ill through contaminated food, SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, is a virus that causes respiratory illness. Foodborne exposure to this virus is not known to be a route of transmission.
The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person. This includes between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet), and through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. However, it’s always critical to follow the 4 key steps of food safety—clean, separate, cook, and chill – to prevent foodborne illness."
So perhaps patient Zero touched the animal who had Covid 19 then touched their face/nose/mouth/eyes and became infected. Perhaps it had nothing to do with eating said animal.
(Just want to add that with Covid 19 heating will kill the virus. But if one refrigerates something with the virus on it (ie paper bag etc) the virus can last much longer).
The wet markets are back and running in NYC (and of course in Wuhan) and I just don't understand why the need to eat illegal animals. There is enough human beings can eat that are safer. SMH. Humans are 100% going to be of extinction of the human race. I was just hoping it wouldn't happen in our or our children's (and so on and so forth) lifetime. Stupid stupid people.
Paul McCartney urges China to ban ‘medieval’ wet markets amid coronavirus
Paul McCartney won’t let it be. The Beatle ripped the age-old tradition of selling live animals in “wet markets” in China during an interview Tuesday. “It wouldn’t be …
www.nydailynews.com
China’s wet markets back in business, despite US calls to keep them shut
Wet markets in China — like the one where the coronavirus outbreak is believed to have originated — are back in business, despite calls from US officials to keep them shuttered. Since B…
nypost.com
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2009
- Messages
- 4,602
Good question. The FDA is maintaining their stance on it and this is what they are still saying.
"
Currently there is no evidence of food or food packaging being associated with transmission of COVID-19.
Unlike foodborne gastrointestinal (GI) viruses like norovirus and hepatitis A that often make people ill through contaminated food, SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, is a virus that causes respiratory illness. Foodborne exposure to this virus is not known to be a route of transmission.
The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person. This includes between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet), and through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads. However, it’s always critical to follow the 4 key steps of food safety—clean, separate, cook, and chill – to prevent foodborne illness."
So perhaps patient Zero touched the animal who had Covid 19 then touched their face/nose/mouth/eyes and became infected. Perhaps it had nothing to do with eating said animal.
(Just want to add that with Covid 19 heating will kill the virus. But if one refrigerates something with the virus on it (ie paper bag etc) the virus can last much longer).
The wet markets are back and running in NYC (and of course in Wuhan) and I just don't understand why the need to eat illegal animals. There is enough human beings can eat that are safer. SMH. Humans are 100% going to be of extinction of the human race. I was just hoping it wouldn't happen in our or our children's (and so on and so forth) lifetime. Stupid stupid people.
Paul McCartney urges China to ban ‘medieval’ wet markets amid coronavirus
Paul McCartney won’t let it be. The Beatle ripped the age-old tradition of selling live animals in “wet markets” in China during an interview Tuesday. “It wouldn’t be …
China’s wet markets back in business, despite US calls to keep them shut
Wet markets in China — like the one where the coronavirus outbreak is believed to have originated — are back in business, despite calls from US officials to keep them shuttered. Since B…
The FDA guidelines might be enough for some. I have two people with pre-existing health conditions in my home. I am not taking any chances. It would literally be insane for me to take a laissez faire attitude with anything they handle from the outside world. For instance, amazon packages sit for five days to allow any virus to die before they are handled. I won’t lose them to carelessness. I have the time and the Clorox wipes to handle this issue for them.
The coronavirus thrives in cold temperatures. It will live better in your fridge than in outside temps and it can live for up to two years in the freezer.
If this virus was transmitted by touching it and then touching the nose then why is it a stretch to think that touching a contaminated food box and then touching your face could be the way to contracting this virus? Don’t you see the FDA’s statement is carefully worded? “Currently they don’t have evidence that food and food packaging is associated with transmission... “ that doesn’t mean that it hasn’t happened or that it can’t. It means they don’t have evidence. That isn’t a strong enough statement for me to follow their guidelines. That statement is one to “handle” the people.
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2008
- Messages
- 56,748
I don't disagree. That is why I wrote about cold temps prolonging the virus in my above post. Also my entire family has pre exciting conditions. We are all in this together and most of us have something that increases our risk. Asthma, autoimmune diseases, practically no immune system and older age. I could go on and on...just sharing statements from the FDA and the CDC. Not saying they are factual. We just don't know enough.
I don't know about them "handling" people @House Cat . I am sorry I shared it if it makes you upset. That was not my intent. We all have to do what we feel is best. Hang in there.
ETA: One thing I did not realize but my friend who is a doctor working with Covid patients told me last night...the virus LOVES the hair. So COVER your hair if you go out or to a store.
ETA 2 LOL I need to proofread. I wrote pre exciting conditions. Umm no. Pre existing. Darn autocorrect.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2006
- Messages
- 15,469
Can I ask a stupid question... ? I've seen this thing about the virus living in the freezer for two years a couple of times, but how do they know? Is it based on temperature and half life projections? Has someone really been growing this thing for a long time now in the ol' basement freezer beside the left over chicken Rondelets from the 80s and the fact just now comes out? Confused! I mean, we've been living with it for two MONTHS and then I see discussions about two YEARS and I'm flummoxed!
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2009
- Messages
- 4,602
I’m not upset. I’m sorry if I sounded that way. I haven’t had much coffee. I’m embarrassed now.
Thank you for the advice about the hair. I will pass it on to friends. An excuse to wear scarves on our heads!
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2007
- Messages
- 5,821
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2009
- Messages
- 4,602
They froze other coronaviruses like SARS and it lived for two years.
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2008
- Messages
- 56,748
No need please do not feel embarrassed. It's surreal what we are all going through. And yes good way to look at that. Scarves on our heads woohoo I am not washing my hair today.
(((HUGS)))
- Joined
- May 17, 2014
- Messages
- 7,299
@missy sorry for my dumbass question of the day
You mentioned knowing people who have no immune system. What happened??? Did they get sick and the immune system stopped working?
You mentioned knowing people who have no immune system. What happened??? Did they get sick and the immune system stopped working?
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2006
- Messages
- 15,469
Ah! Thank you!
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2007
- Messages
- 5,821
People going through chemo are a huge demographic for this.
- Joined
- May 17, 2014
- Messages
- 7,299
Ahh I didn't think of that! I was imagining people with no illnesses but with a non working immune system!
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2008
- Messages
- 56,748
@Asscherhalo_lover is right. Some further info fyi.
There are different degrees and causes. One you are born with (primary) and one that is acquired. You can get poorly functioning immune systems with certain diseases like diabetes or through cancer treatments like radiation and chemo.
One of my very good friends dh has a very poorly functioning immune system due to radiation and chemo when he had Non Hodgkins Lymphoma in his twenties. He has had 3 heart attacks as well due to the cancer treatments. She has had him move out of the house because she is working with Covid patients now. And it is going to be a very long time til she can see him again.
My mom's immune system is also very poorly functioning as well due to many autoimmune diseases that are not well controlled and other health issues. There are a number of diseases linked to primary immunodeficiency disorders. And furthermore one can be on immune suppressing meds for their diseases and that puts them further at risk but one shouldn't stop their meds as they are necessary or they wouldn't be on them in the first place. At least without checking with their doctor first.
You can function and live a good life with immune deficiencies but of course one must be careful and when something like Covid 19 exists that can wipe you out if your immune system isn't working. And as one gets older one's immune system generally gets weaker.
- Joined
- May 11, 2013
- Messages
- 7,570
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2013
- Messages
- 2,487
I hope this brings a little comfort!
Stomach(gastric) acid is only present in the stomach itself (secreted by gastric glands in the lining) and will kill the virus if ingested.
The intestinal tract itself is like a giant mucus membrane. It doesn't produce gastric acid. The pancreas neutralizes the hydrochloric acid of the stomach.
Think more like 'never ending nose'.
How does Coronavirus get to the small intestines? The Coronavirus is frequently found in the gastrointestinal tract, and in fecal matter enough to theoretically transmit. So I’m wondering why stomach acid kills it but it is able to jump to the gastrointestinal tract? Leaky gut? Sincere question.
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2014
- Messages
- 8,225
Given our bodies need dirt to give us things, so our bodies can learn what to attack when it appears in the system, we should all be encouraging more playing in the dirt and a lot less use of 'Kills 99.9999999% of everything!!' products
(which surely must be encouraging antiobiotic resistance!)
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2004
- Messages
- 27,044
Yup. This also.
ItsMainelyYou
Ideal_Rock
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2014
- Messages
- 5,399
It just replicates all over the body after entering into the mucous membranes/blood stream and travelling/colonizing.
* that is my understanding- but I'm not a doctor!
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2015
- Messages
- 3,451
I completely uderstand that you are worried and you are right that one can get Covid 19 by touching ANY contaminated surface and then your eyes /mouth /nose.
If one is wearing gloves touches a contaminated surface and touches one's eyes/mouth /nose with them, one can also catch the virus. However if you touch a contaminated object, then what your hands thoroughly with soap you're good.
Technically you don't need gloves. I'm for instance only wearing then when shopping, because I am more aware of my hands and I can be sure I don't touch my face at all.
So if you want to protect your loved ones you can unbox the packages and wash your hands.
If it makes you feel more secure, wear disposable gloves and THEN WASH your hands.
The inside of the box hasn't been touched and even if an I'll worker sneezed right on it, the virus cannot survive on it for long.
Studies show that most memes with extreme survival times on surfaces were fake news.
Study suggests new coronavirus may remain on surfaces for days
Scientists found that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can be detected in aerosols for up to three hours and on plastic and stainless steel surfaces for up to three days.
www.nih.gov
SandyinAnaheim
Brilliant_Rock
- Joined
- Feb 8, 2014
- Messages
- 1,117
I'm with @StephanieLynn and @OoohShiny, not much different here. I wear gloves at the store to handle products, take gloves off before I get in the car so as to NOT contaminate my steering wheel, put things away and wash my hands.
I was taught to wash most fruits and vegetables with a mild soap solution to remove dirt and germs ever since I was a child. I've never tasted soap on anything I eat. I also wash melons and avocados so I don't transmit what might be on the outside to the inside when I cut it.
If I had kids in the house I might be inclined to sterilize packaging, but most of the things we buy sit in the pantry for some time before use because I have backups of EVERY THING. I don't buy one box of pasta, or one can of tomatoes, I buy 3 or 4 and they go to the end of the rotation. Having lived through several hurricanes and dozens of hurricane scares, I know better than to have a sparse pantry of staples.
I was taught to wash most fruits and vegetables with a mild soap solution to remove dirt and germs ever since I was a child. I've never tasted soap on anything I eat. I also wash melons and avocados so I don't transmit what might be on the outside to the inside when I cut it.
If I had kids in the house I might be inclined to sterilize packaging, but most of the things we buy sit in the pantry for some time before use because I have backups of EVERY THING. I don't buy one box of pasta, or one can of tomatoes, I buy 3 or 4 and they go to the end of the rotation. Having lived through several hurricanes and dozens of hurricane scares, I know better than to have a sparse pantry of staples.
- Joined
- Feb 29, 2012
- Messages
- 12,369
I don’t disinfect my groceries and I really don’t do a daily disinfecting of my house. With my OCD issues, this could go haywire quickly for me.
I try to focus on washing hands often and not touching my face (failing miserably on the face one).
I did become very anxious yesterday at the thought of a second wave like the Spanish flu taking out people who made it though the first wave.
So the anxiety is definitely here. I have to balance anxiety, mental well being, practicality and living my life— I do not have a problem with anyone who wants to disinfect their groceries. We all have to do what we have to do to get thorough this sane and with mitigating risks and potential hazards.
I try to focus on washing hands often and not touching my face (failing miserably on the face one).
I did become very anxious yesterday at the thought of a second wave like the Spanish flu taking out people who made it though the first wave.
So the anxiety is definitely here. I have to balance anxiety, mental well being, practicality and living my life— I do not have a problem with anyone who wants to disinfect their groceries. We all have to do what we have to do to get thorough this sane and with mitigating risks and potential hazards.
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2014
- Messages
- 8,225
I hope you can balance your anxiety against the statistics that show a very low risk of serious outcomes for the vast majority of people!
I think a second wave is inevitable - because as soon as people get out and about, they will have more contact, which will increase transmission opportunities.
Is a second wave a problem? Not as long as the lockdowns have been used to create spare capacity within the healthcare system to cater for a second wave (and any subsequent waves) so that those few with serious outcomes can be given the best care possible.
I believe that this will be just another of those things that we get used to being around and having the potential to be the thing that finishes us off - like the flu, it's likely everyone will get it at some point, but the population at large will have increasing levels of immunity as time goes on, so it won't necessarily be a problem
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2008
- Messages
- 56,748
@OoohShiny this is not to pick on you at all. I value your participation here and look forward to your posts. Even when we don’t agree.
I do agree we shouldn’t overly stress over what we have little control but just that we are informed and to that end make smart choices for us.
You keep comparing this to the flu. The flu does not attack the kidneys and lungs in the manner that Covid 19 does. It does not throw clots all over the body. The flu does not put a fully 20% of those that get infected into the hospital with severe issues including dramatic breathing difficulties.
I could go on but you get the point. This is not the flu. Well at least not the garden variety flu that comes around every year. This might be better compared to the flu pandemic of 1918 but even then it’s different.
All this to say this pandemic is deadly to many. Not just the older and infirmed and anyway who are we to put a value on each life because of age, health, weight etc. No. All life is valuable.
IMO we take care of the health and healthcare system and then economic health can follow. Nothing can happen overnight but we need to protect the lives of people first and foremost.
My opinion.
I do agree we shouldn’t overly stress over what we have little control but just that we are informed and to that end make smart choices for us.
You keep comparing this to the flu. The flu does not attack the kidneys and lungs in the manner that Covid 19 does. It does not throw clots all over the body. The flu does not put a fully 20% of those that get infected into the hospital with severe issues including dramatic breathing difficulties.
I could go on but you get the point. This is not the flu. Well at least not the garden variety flu that comes around every year. This might be better compared to the flu pandemic of 1918 but even then it’s different.
All this to say this pandemic is deadly to many. Not just the older and infirmed and anyway who are we to put a value on each life because of age, health, weight etc. No. All life is valuable.
IMO we take care of the health and healthcare system and then economic health can follow. Nothing can happen overnight but we need to protect the lives of people first and foremost.
My opinion.
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2014
- Messages
- 8,225
Fear not, I don't take it personally
I just like to debate both sides of a discussion because it's interesting and creates a learning opportunity for me, so may take an opposing view to generate debate, even if that view may be deliberately provocative
lolI reference comparison to the flu in term of its likelihood to always be around (now the beast is out of the cage it can't be put back in), to be transmitted to most people at some point in their lives (because it appears to have a reasonably high rate of transmissibility (is that a word?
) and infection), and to be for the vast majority (going from the figures seen to date) a mild condition that might have one under the weather for a day or two, perhaps with the need to take to one's bed for a day or two if it's slightly more severe. Both the flu and Covid-19 kill people each year and will continue to kill people each year - that is a certainty in my eyes - so as mentioned, I expect it will just become 'one of those things' that we as society live with and get used to, simply because we have to (in order for an economy to function, if nothing else).
Treatment will likely get more effective (through drug trials and potentially a vaccine in time) so outcomes of an infection are likely to be less severe in the future, which will add to the view that society is likely to have of it being 'one of those things'.
Life is a trade-off of risk vs reward everyday, so if mortality rates in the under 60s remain as low as they are now (somewhere around 0.5 to 1%?), or get even lower due to wider testing showing much larger numbers of asymptomatic cases and people who just thought it was a light cold, I believe most people won't give it a second thought, especially if a vaccine and/or effective treatment is available.
Of greater concern to me is that deaths from cardiovascular disease are massively high, which is (for the most part) entirely preventable by diet and lifestyle choices:
Causes of death
The estimated annual number of deaths from each cause. Estimates come with wide uncertainties, especially for countries with poor vital registration.
ourworldindata.org
That dataset says that there were ~900,000 deaths in the USA from cardiovascular illness in 2017, which works out at 17,300 a week, so almost 2,500 a day.
The figures for Covid-19 for 20th April for the USA appear to be:
date / location / new_cases / new_deaths / total_cases / total_deaths
2020-04-20 / United States / 24601 / 1772 / 759687 / 40682
(taken from https://ourworldindata.org/coronavirus >>> https://github.com/owid/covid-19-data/blob/master/public/data/ecdc/full_data.csv )
On that basis, Covid-19 has so far, in the 5 months since December 2019 (which IIRC was when it was identified?) only done as much damage as 16 days of cardiovascular deaths.
Why are there not regulations to restrict unhealthy food choices?
Why are manufacturers allowed to fill their products with cheap Palm Oil (that requires rainforest to be destroyed) and trans-fats that are of no benefit to the human body and have (IIRC) been shown to do them damage?
Why is the USA the home of so many 200, 300, 400, 600lb people?
Why have obesity rates shot up from 7.5-15% in 1990 to 20-40% today in the really quite worrying graphs on this link? (!!)
Adult - State of Childhood Obesity
According to the most recent Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data, adult obesity rates now exceed 35% in 17 states.
stateofchildhoodobesity.org
Why do we just accept this level of death as being 'what happens'?
Is it because we should be free to kill ourselves slowly through our lifestyle choices?
But Covid-19 is therefore unacceptable because it's outside our control at this moment in time?
[/controversial, provocative point
]Arguably a vastly increased effort needs to be focused on this killer of massive amounts of people!
Will Covid-19 kill more people past this point in time? Of course, but I'm not personally convinced we are going to see 1m+ people no longer with us. (At least I hope not
)(We have strayed somewhat from the thread title now
lol)
Last edited:
- Joined
- May 17, 2014
- Messages
- 7,299
I think this is more vicious than the flu but I don't think we can keep this quarantine up indefinitely. People will start murdering each other after 6 months. Can you imagine the mental health repercussions of being locked in for 6 months to a year.
I think it will come back again and again and cull some of us out. I say that as someone who probably has as good of a chance of being culled out as anybody else. I don't feel invincible.
Best case scenario is the curve flattens (which we're all working on! Yay Aussies! 98% compliance!!!).
It comes back and takes out a bunch of people at any given time but hopefully our hospitals and medical systems will have enough beds to help anyone who needs medical care.
I don't see a situation where there will be a magic cure or vaccine to bring us back to the way things used to be and I think a lot of people are going to have to bunker down forever if they want to feel safe.
I think it will come back again and again and cull some of us out. I say that as someone who probably has as good of a chance of being culled out as anybody else. I don't feel invincible.
Best case scenario is the curve flattens (which we're all working on! Yay Aussies! 98% compliance!!!).
It comes back and takes out a bunch of people at any given time but hopefully our hospitals and medical systems will have enough beds to help anyone who needs medical care.
I don't see a situation where there will be a magic cure or vaccine to bring us back to the way things used to be and I think a lot of people are going to have to bunker down forever if they want to feel safe.
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2006
- Messages
- 11,419
A very informative article:
www.nytimes.com
To answer the original question - we disinfected groceries for ourselves once, then gave it up. However. when we buy groceries for my boyfriend’s mother and her partner, we do take generally them home and disinfect them before before taking them over, waving/chatting from a safe distance, and leaving the groceries on the front porch. “Mom” is 90 and bed bound while a broken femur mends, and she and G are under strict doctors orders to isolate.
Is the Virus on My Clothes? My Shoes? My Hair? My Newspaper? (Published 2020)
We asked the experts to answer questions about all the places coronavirus lurks (or doesn’t). You’ll feel better after reading this.
To answer the original question - we disinfected groceries for ourselves once, then gave it up. However. when we buy groceries for my boyfriend’s mother and her partner, we do take generally them home and disinfect them before before taking them over, waving/chatting from a safe distance, and leaving the groceries on the front porch. “Mom” is 90 and bed bound while a broken femur mends, and she and G are under strict doctors orders to isolate.
- Joined
- Feb 29, 2012
- Messages
- 12,369
It is more vicious than the flu, and so many of us have cormorbidities.
What’s so bad in New Orleans is that 70% who die are African Americans!!! That is so damn unacceptible. The governor has created a task force to examine all the reasons why and the disparities in health care access and outcomes. (Louisiana is one of the few red states that expanded Medicare because we have a “blue dog democrat” governor.
My son’s mental health is going bad. He hates it up here in this rural area, so he is doing therapy twice a week telehealth, and my mental health is starting to go sideways. I’m going to let him go back to the greater New Orleans Area with masks and filters I bought.
So I understand that we probably have to open up because people are going to start dying of other things (elective surgery is simply non emergency surgery... any surgery that is scheduled like breast cancer, heart ablation, hips and knees etc).... and if you all remember my BIL killed himself in September 2018 so we are very very concerned about any suicides that have already happened and will happen because of this. (LEO killed himself the other day in my state).
I’m “rich” surely by how anyone defines it and we have always lived below our means and have always had 6-7 months of savings available, but how in the hell are “regular” people surviving???
I have no answers about anything regarding this pandemic.
What’s so bad in New Orleans is that 70% who die are African Americans!!! That is so damn unacceptible. The governor has created a task force to examine all the reasons why and the disparities in health care access and outcomes. (Louisiana is one of the few red states that expanded Medicare because we have a “blue dog democrat” governor.
My son’s mental health is going bad. He hates it up here in this rural area, so he is doing therapy twice a week telehealth, and my mental health is starting to go sideways. I’m going to let him go back to the greater New Orleans Area with masks and filters I bought.
So I understand that we probably have to open up because people are going to start dying of other things (elective surgery is simply non emergency surgery... any surgery that is scheduled like breast cancer, heart ablation, hips and knees etc).... and if you all remember my BIL killed himself in September 2018 so we are very very concerned about any suicides that have already happened and will happen because of this. (LEO killed himself the other day in my state).
I’m “rich” surely by how anyone defines it and we have always lived below our means and have always had 6-7 months of savings available, but how in the hell are “regular” people surviving???
I have no answers about anything regarding this pandemic.
The Ultimate Guide to Men’s Wedding Bands: Metals, Fit & Finish
The Ultimate Guide to Men’s Wedding Bands: Metals, Fit & Finish - 06/27
Chipped Diamonds: Causes, Risks, and What You Should Do About It
Chipped Diamonds: Causes, Risks, and What You Should Do About It - 06/27
300x240.png)