Shopping during COVID-19

Today, we welcome back Ram, CEO of Quality Certification Services (QCS) and an experienced Food Safety Auditor and trainer on various food safety topics. Join us to learn more about how to safely shop during unprecedented times!
COVID-19 is not a foodborne illness!

Sanitizers vs. Disinfectants:
   - Sanitizer are substance that significantly reduces the germ population, but doesn't destroy or eliminate all the germs. Typically, sanitizers do not claim to reduce viruses. 

   - Disinfectants are substances that destroy germs: bacteria, fungi and viruses. 

Hand sanitizers vs. sanitizers used in food processing facilities: 

Ram shares that "not all hand sanitizer are tested against virus and bacteria. FDA tests are usually directed to how safe he product is to be applied to hands/body, and not necessarily the product's efficacy" 

Sanitizer used at food processing facility are Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered and the label indicates the product's efficacy and what germs the product targets. Remember: Off label use of EPA approved sanitizes is a violation of US EPA regulation!

Alcohol based hand sanitizer vs. Alcohol-free hand sanitizer: 

Accodrding to CDC, Alcohol-free hand sanitizers may are not work against many types of germs, including COVID-19. Ram shares "alcohol-free hand sanitizer is better than nothing."

Aalcohol based hand sanitizer is effective against COVID 19. CDC recommends a concentration greater than 60% if the active ingredient is ethanol or greater than 70% if the active ingredient is isopropanol.

Ram mentions, "The efficacy of hand sanitizer depends how dirty or oily your hands are, the type of germs you had contact with, and the alcohol content on the product applied"

Best practices while shopping!
- Maintain social distance 
- Wash hands often and for at least 20 seconds
- Use hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available 
- Limit the amount of products touched
- Wash produce to eliminate soil residues (COVID19 is no a foodborne illness)
- Wear a mask in public. Dispose gloves and mask in a safe way
- Wash the bags you bring to the store
- If feeling sick, do not leave the house and do not come in contact with others 
- Follow the new store patterns and adapt "one way aisle"

Support you local farmers!

 Use Florida Farmers' Market Association interactive map to find fresh healthy eats near you

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