Still wiping down groceries?

[Cam77]

Just wondered if anyone is still doing this? At the beginning we were told the virus can live on surfaces for X number of days, but as far as I’m aware, the powers that be never elaborated on whether it was a real risk of transmission.

I have elderly parents and am being extra cautious for their sakes. I was about to stop wiping a few weeks ago but then number started going again when I live. I know the risk is super small, but anyway, anyone else still consider this worth doing? Or was the science updated somewhere to say there’s no risk of transmission from groceries/parcels etc?

No never did

Yes we still are. I don’t have to worry then when the children help themselves to things. Won’t miss doing it when this is all over.

God no!

Yes although really find it such a chore! DH is vulnerable so just trying to minimise risk even if it's a small risk. We leave post for a few days too if possible.

See, if there was enough risk to justify all this wouldn't 90% of the supermarket workers ended up catching it? They're there all day. They have to touch everything. They've spent the whole of lockdown handling every item you've ever seen on a supermarket shelf.

To my knowledge there isn't a disproportional high level of infection among supermarket staff?

Still doing it, thought about stopping recently but then read this:
news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-new-zealand-investigates-freight-as-possible-source-of-new-covid-19-outbreak-12047645

We're still doing it. It's a small annoyance but I figure better to be safe than sorry. Sorry to say I've once too often seen people wipe their nose on the back of their hand or similar and whilst we don't know how long the virus lives on surfaces, we do know it seems to thrive in fridge conditions so if the picker for my online shopping has touched their face and then my shopping, I'd rather remove the risk. My choice and I completely understand why others would choose not to bother.

Currently there is no evidence of food or food packaging being associated with transmission of COVID-19

From the FDA website.

It is not necessary to sanitise the outside of food packaging. While there is some evidence that the virus can survive on hard surfaces, the risk from handling food packing is very low and there is no evidence that the illness can be transmitted in this way

SafeFood.net

I thought it was established that although traces of the virus was present in packaging, it was in such minute amounts that the transmission risk was negligible?
There were some people quarantining post for three days, instead of just chucking the outer layer and washing their hands... 🤷🏻‍♀️

I leave it a few days.

My parents are wiping and leaving their shopping for 3 days. I’m amazed because they are very casual about germs in normal times.

X post...

We still do - fill the sink with hot water then add a couple of teaspoons of thin bleach. When you think about all the people who have touched the packaging, why would you want that in your fridge etc. I think this is going to be a long term thing for us, but that's just our choice, in this household.

I did from the beginning as I have a very vulnerable father and I also work in a hospital. I still do with certain things depending on where I buy them and what they are.

My DP does. I never could be bothered. I do the shopping, he brings it in and wipes it down while I have a brew. I've told him he doesnt need too but he insists so I just let him get on with it.

We did it twice at the very beginning when it was still very unclear exactly what was going on so we took sensible precautions. We haven’t done it since.

[quote Aerielview]Still doing it, thought about stopping recently but then read this:
news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-new-zealand-investigates-freight-as-possible-source-of-new-covid-19-outbreak-12047645[/quote]
That’s like the fishing tanker one where they had all quarantined before the journey and still got it onboard weeks later. They thought that might be from freight too.

I sort my shopping into three piles - that which needs to go into the refrigerator straight away and that which does not (subdivided into that which has a long shelf-life and that which just needs to be stored in the cool).

I wipe the former with cloths soaked in 70% alcohol.

Perishables such as fruit and vegetables I put in a cool room. Others I leave under a table.

I then put these away after three days.

Thing is, people have always touched packaging in shops. I'm assuming most people don't bleach their shopping during normal flu season etc...? Each to their own but I wish people wouldn't act like there is actually any evidence to suggest it's necessary.

@TooTTootY
Thanks for that. But when I googled I got this from the FDA website:

“Again, there is no evidence of food packaging being associated with the transmission of COVID-19. However, if you wish, you can wipe down product packaging and allow it to air dry, as an extra precaution.“

Which isn’t quite the same. Basically more like, “we’ve not had a confirmed case, but in theory it could/you never know”.

My dad does but he has medical conditions that make him vunerable.

However I’ve never done it, good hand hygiene yes. I’m not convinced of the risk being that high from packaging and if you wash your hands regularly without over touching face/mouth it’s even lower.

I genuinely thought wiping down groceries or quarantining parcel deliveries was an urban myth and I'm amazed that there really are people actually doing this. Still it's their personal choice to do what they want to with their own groceries and it doesn't harm anyone.

They are saying 'if you want to you can'. But as per their quote, there isn't any evidence to suggest it's necessary.

That's like my doctor saying 'well there isn't any evidence that taking X will help your situation but if you want to try it go ahead'.

@runbummyrun

What?! Wiping down groceries? Is this a "thing"

Fucking hell, everyone has gone mad.

Oh you again

FGS Can't you stop being so obnoxious??

I did but am trying to wean myself off it!
It's impossible to just wash your hands before you eat and think risk has gone as you would have to wash your hands after touching all packaging before touching food which is then going on your plate (e.g. cherry tomatoes). I have tried to do this after shopping and find I have to wash my hands every few seconds when preparing salad etc.
I agree the risk is probably very low and viral load small but equally if that is the case then I think that the whole emphasis on hand washing has been too strong compared to the benefits of mask wearing. If the risk of picking virus up off your shopping is low then surely in general transfer via hands is also likely low unless you cough/sneeze on your hands and touch a high contact area such as toilet flush/door handle ??

@Thisismytimetoshine
Yes, I agree the risk is negligible. But I guess for people with vulnerable family it’s just for peace of mind - taking “negligible” to “zero” - as it is one area you can control and just takes half an hour. I guess I know it’s 99.999% a waste of time, but with daily cases still so high I guess I’ll carry on, at least still schools go back which will prevent a much realer- but unavoidable risk. So then i will probably chill out on this negligible risk as will be time to just get on with things and unavoidably live with the risk to a certain degree.