Experts say contaminated fast food won’t spread coronavirus
We’ve all had fast food in lockdown, but with a COVID-19 cluster linked to McDonald’s Fawkner, and other fast food workers testing positive to coronavirus — is takeaway food really safe to eat? Here’s what the experts say.
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A COVID-19 outbreak at a McDonald’s outlet has left many of us wondering whether it’s safe to eat fast food
Fears over fast food outlets spreading coronavirus comes after a cluster of 10 cases was linked to McDonald’s Fawkner and an asymptomatic truck driver tested positive to COVID-19 after visiting a dozen McDonald’s outlets.
McDonald’s Australia has since closed 12 stores in Melbourne’s north and west for a ‘deep clean’, while another McDonald’s Craigieburn employee and a Domino’s Pizza Fairfield worker also tested positive to coronavirus.
Experts say coronavirus cannot be caught by eating takeaway touched by infected fast food workers.
Professor Stephen Turner, Head of Microbiology at Monash University, said it was unlikely someone could get coronavirus from eating food sneezed or coughed on by a sick fast food worker.
“Coronavirus is a respiratory infection, so if you were to get it via an oral route you’d need to breathe it in, as the virus takes hold in the airways,” he said.
Prof Turner said while spreading coronavirus was likely through handling of takeaway containers, the virus was ‘fragile’ and would not survive long on a surface.
“It’s unlikely, but certainly possible. The level of infection from packaging is low.”
Professor Peter Collignon, of Infectious Diseases at Australian National University, said heat from cooking raw food would kill any virus, as would washing your hands.
“If you wash your hands before you touch your eyes or mouth, then you’re reducing your chances of catching the virus,” he said.
McDonald’s Australia said the truck driver at the centre of recent store closures was wearing gloves at the time of delivery, in line with McDonald’s protocol, but no mask.
McDonald’s said its employees didn’t wear face masks, as per government guidelines.
The fast-food chain has increased cleaning and sanitisation procedures during the coronavirus pandemic, with all employees required to wear gloves, frequently wash hands and practice social distancing.
McDonald’s doesn’t anticipate a staff shortage due to many employees self-isolating after coming into contact with the delivery driver or other infected workers.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand said coronavirus was not a foodborne disease and there was no evidence COVID-19 is transmitted through food or packaging.
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