Even though COVID-19 is not transmitted through foods, there is a concern about the virus being passed on through food handling or other shoppers. If you live in a household that has been impacted by a cancer diagnosis, it is more important than ever to properly handle your groceries and takeout food. The Foundation for Women’s Cancer (FWC) is pleased to present a video series on food safety in partnership with Donna Emanuel Rosenbaum, MS, CEO of Food Safety Partners, Ltd. Donna is a food safety expert and cancer survivor, who will cover topics of how to safely shop for and transport groceries and other items, as well as how to clean and store them.
In this first installment, Donna discusses how often you should shop for groceries during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how to plan for your shopping trip.
In Part 2, Donna talks about the safest ways to shop for groceries. What is okay to touch? What isn’t? Should you bring your own bags? We’ll answer these and other questions to better help you while shopping for groceries, which is especially important for households with persons who are immunocompromised, such as cancer patients.
In the third installment, “Bringing Home and Storing Groceries,” Donna demonstrates the safest ways to bring your groceries home and store them. This includes how to handle your produce, the best ways to clean different types of foods, what foods should be transferred to other containers, and guidance on the use of cleaning supplies.
The fourth and final video in this four-part series is “Takeout Food.” Sometimes you just need a break from cooking! For this final video, Donna talks about takeout food and some guidelines to keep in mind before ordering, especially if someone in your household has been impacted by cancer and is immunocompromised.
Food Safety Checklist
This printable Food Safety Checklist covers many of the hints and tips covered in the videos and is a great document to keep handy and to refer back to as we continue to navigate a new normal in the age of COVID-19.
Food Safety Links
- The 5 Steps to Effective Handwashing (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Disinfectants to Use Against COVID-19 (Environmental Protection Agency)
- How to Clean and Disinfect During the Pandemic (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- COVID-19 Survival in Air on Surfaces:
Research Study (New England Journal of Medicine)
Media Coverage with Experts (Today.com) - How to Reheat Leftovers (US Department of Agriculture)
- Handling Produce Safely (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
