Are you still wiping groceries?

[Lovely1a2b3c]

Just that! We have been wiping food shopping items as some of the family are vulnerable (not shielding) but wondering if it's time to stop?

No. Never have. Seems a bit daft.

@Mistigri

I've never done it. There's no evidence for viable quantities of virus being transmitted this way and I've not seen any health experts advising that this is necessary (though I've seen some advising that it isn't needed).

Yesterday an advisor said she was and suggested it's still appropriate on Keeping Britain Fed I believe.

Nope, never have. I just wash my hands afterwards as normal. Those who do wipe, did you used to do the same during winter flu outbreaks too? That is also dangerous for vulnerable people. I find it odd that people that looked at me like I had two heads when I washed my kids' hands at soft-play birthday parties before sitting down to eat are now bleaching their bananas.

Yes, still wiping groceries here.

Dita73
My apologies, didn’t realise it was a private conversation.
Have a nice day - binmen came, so off to wipe them off now

I am.. and it really doesn't take me long at all. Anything that doesn't need fridge or freezer gets put in the spare room for a couple days and the rest gets a quick wash before being put away. It doesn't take me much extra time at all and then I'm confident that whatever the kids touch I'm the cupboards is clean. Not a big deal to do imo and it's peace of mind for me

@sugarlost

I made a poor attempt once but I understand why people are doing it.

I read in the news there have been outbreaks in some factory's providing food such as chicken... what are people's thoughts regarding this? Does anyone eat pre cooked chicken and if yes would they stop buying?

I don't eat pre cooked chicken but it wouldn't stop me continuing if I did. Same with the stuff I was reading about people being scared to eat takeaways. Our immune system via our stomachs is very good. I suspect as long as you don't rub the chicken in your eyes you'll be just fine ☺️

@WwMILd Of course you’re are 🙄 Enjoy!

Yes.

@areallthenamesusedup The virus can live on plastic for at least 3 days, and some say 5 days or more.

Almost all food is plastic-wrapped.

We wipe with mild bleach and cardboard or paper packaging is quarantined for 3 days.

Why ever not? You've no idea who has touched it . Other shoppers, pickers and packers, people from other countries for imported food.

Never did. I think it's very over the top unless vulnerable people will be coming in to contact with it and I didn't want another thing destroying my sense of normality and adding to my list of things to worry about.

Never did. Family was shielding because of DS but just follow stringent hand hygiene.

Still washing anything that comes into the house. Still haven’t had a take away. Still following lock down.

I had been thinking most people were stopping washing their shopping. The Beijing outbreak must change that though I guess. If hundreds of people across the city be infected so easily - perhaps people should continue bathing groceries for a while longer.

Never wiped groceries. I have c19 in March - very mild

@areallthenamesusedup

Unless you lick the cans when they come in, can't see why good handwashing routine isn't enough.

So you put the milk in the fridge and after putting all the shopping away, wash your hands. What happens then when you get the unwashed milk out of the fridge to make tea, do you wash your hands again? If not, why not?

Yep weve been doing it since I got my shielding letter. Fridge /freezer food get wiped down as well as anything we need straight away. Anything else is quarantined in the shed. Takes a small bit of time but we feel it's worth the effort.

I'm still wiping and probably will after this is all over. I use dettol spray on a clean cloth, and wash things like spring onions in soapy water. It only takes one person to sneeze on goods in a shop and the virus can be on there for two days. I've only used bar soap throughout the pandemic, and don't constantly wipe down surfaces as there is only me here.

Nope, and I never did. I generally don’t wash my hands just because I’ve handled shopping, either.

I never have and never will. Ridiculous. I don't quarantine post or other deliveries either..

I have a raised risk level, but still could never be arsed with this.

@WeeM

I was thinking about posting this very thing earlier! I don’t but I wondered if everyone else was. It would take so long and use so many wipes. The only thing I wipe is cans that you drink from or a packet of something if I’m going to eat it right away. I just wash my hands after putting it away and wipe the door handles that I’ve touched.

It's not necessary to use wipes. Soapy water will do the job just fine.

It took ages the first few times, but I'm in a good routine and it doesn't take long.

@Itthistheend

I know someone who tested positive a week after dropping off shopping at her shielding grandparents and one of them is now in hospital with the virus... It’s so hard to tell if wiping makes much difference to the chances of catching it just now though so really I’d only wipe if it’s not a difficult or time consuming task to do.

Other posters have said similar. People shielding (everyone in the house) only outside contact has been shopping left on doorstep & post and they got it.

Just put it away and wash your hands, that should be enough

But then you've either got to decide not to touch whatever it is for 72 hours, or wash your hands every time you pick stuff up from wherever you put it.

I'm definitely not one for obsessive hygiene, but even I can see that wiping stuff is definitely not ridiculous as people claim. We know that the virus lives on hard surfaces for around three days, and we have no means of knowing that someone with covid hasn't coughed on the goods in question. Why take the risk to save a few minutes' wiping?

Nope, never have and never will. I don't wash or quarantine post either. I can't be bothered.

@WagathaChristieDoesItAgain

I still do. It's quicker to wipe them down with soapy water than it is to have to wash my hands every single time I go in the cupboard or the fridge.

That's my thinking too. Not just the actual handwashing either, but remembering every time you make a coffee or whatever. I'd rather do it as anything comes into the house, so once at home, everything feels safe & 'clean'.

Never did it in the first place.

I would rather take the risk, which I consider to be very small, than bother with wiping down everything that comes into the house.