Resources for help getting food during quarantine and safe handling of food

We figured that if you remove the outer leaves of most lettuces the stuff inside should be free of contamination - especially for a cos or romaine.

 

Of course, Canada Post should get their act together, as they say. When UPS wants duty they mail us a letter. As soon as this incident occurred with the postman, I tore off my clothes, jumped into a shower and lathered up, changed clothes, and did a neti pot--but who knows? I was at my Mother's actually, and had not set things up there--in our house I have an N95 and gloves at the door and leave packages in the vestibule for 3-5 days before touching. She lives in the house next door to ours and I was cleaning there, as the cleaning help is not coming anymore. Have to be on guard at every moment--

 

Ok thank you. I will tear off more of the outer leaves from now. I also use tomatoes and avocado in the salad, but lather these up. Should I be peeling the skins off the tomatoes: I used to do this years ago.

 

I've been wiping down all my groceries with bleach water (1/3 cup to 1 gallon water) and have had no issues. I even dunk my bananas and pineapples in it.

 

While out this morning I saw one of those shipping containers where testing for covid19 takes place. It was right outside my doctors surgery. So, handy to know it is there but I hope I will not need to visit it.

I had to wait a half hour in line at the supermarket this morning, the majority in line were wearing a mask and keeping distance. I had to sit on the kerb because standing became far too much. There was only one other person who also sat down.

I've soaked all the fruit in soapy water and rinsed. I still have the pumpkin, ice cream cone packet, potato chip to wipe down. So laborious, but I know it should be done.

 

Don't worry - I was just joking about supermarkets screening workers and sterilise goods. My wishful thinking has not deluded me that badly.

 

Fortunately when I went with a friend there was no waiting. I found that being extra careful and trying to follow the new 'rules' drained my cognition. I was a little scatter brained when I got home. Anything outside my routine thinking process drains me much quicker.

 

I know what you mean. I was doing well with everything at the supermarket then the Pharmacy but after that I had just about had enough of being ultra aware.

 

@Rosie when I got home I put away the cold and freezer stuff but let everything else just sit in the bag for one day before washing down. I was totally paranoid and exhausted.

 

Yes, I got sick of disinfecting my hands while out. I was even disinfecting the disinfectant bottle because I had touched it. It's so good to be home again.

 

I am already doing this. Its only the freezer stuff that is an issue for me.

 

Freezing is a common method of preserving viruses in a laboratory setting and evidence from the WHO found the SARS virus can survive more than 21 days at 4C (39F) and –80C (-112F).

Therefore freezing is unlikely to inactivate the virus. When considering how the virus might survive in frozen foods, one needs to consider how food could potentially be contaminated in a food processing environment with the likelihood of direct contamination of food being very low.

https://www.achesongroup.com/covid-19faqs

 

In nature viruses can survive potentially for centuries, but not sure about RNA viruses, they are more fragile. DNA viruses do though.

 

Cook it, and while waiting on oven dispose of packaging then wash your hands. That is what I do currently.

 

I'm not sure where you are but here in Northern Ireland/UK I understand that this is about keeping people 2 metres apart. Although my experience is that when your passing in isles etc. then sometimes the 2 metres is not obeyed.

Noticed a UK (English) TV program last night where the police were checking that those in queues outside stores were 2 metres apart; checking with the stores security staff that the 2 metre rule was being applied.

Interesting about chicken---- not that I know it's out of stock I want to rush out and buy it!

I've noticed the queues were long when I called at the store in the morning (8.30 am) but none in the evening (7pm). Guess the downside is there's less available (bread etc.) in the evening!

 

I have been washing bags of things in the sink using washing up liquid wearing washing up gloves but then realised that bags of fruit (apples, pears etc) had holes in them. So I figured the easiest way was to remove the fruit from the bags into the sink wash them, rinse, and leave them to dry, bin the bag, and when the fruit was dry put in a new bag before putting in the fridge.

 

Having abused your lettuce with whatever, plant the root into a glass of water and give it a little sun. Perks them up and exposes it to uv. Probably true for other root vegetables.

we have been using Milton tablets - baby bottle steriliser type, 27 years past sell by date tho. Hope it works, but felt uncomfortable with harsher chemicals on the actual food.