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?

I didn’t do it. I wash my hands after unpacking the grocery delivery -mostly, sometimes I forgot at the beginning but I’m getting into the rhythm of it now.

We don't and didn't. A close friend of mine is undergoing chemo and is incredibly vulnerable generally, so she's doing it. No judgement from me - we have very little insight into the true transmission of this virus and if an individual feels better able to handle things after wiping down groceries who am I to find fault?

DH is still doing it meticulously. I'm more meh about it.

@TheTrollFairy

I leave all stuff that doesn’t need to go in a fridge or freezer in a cool place in my house for a couple of days. The risk is minor, but as a potential high risk person, a risk is a risk and there is an easy solution. I know people who did it who have stopped now as they have returned to work so they have a greater risk there than from the shopping

People's risk assessment is weird.

They're two unrelated risks - you might as well say you're going swimming with sharks because you're going sky diving anyway

@TooTTootY
Absolutely, I see what you’re saying. But given, among other things, the dramatic 180 on face masks I guess people are following their instincts/what makes them comfortable to a greater degree than they’d like. As the authorities, particularly in the West, have not covered themselves in glory with the scientifically derived advice given thus far..... I ignored the official March-May advice regarding mass gatherings and face masks and am glad I did.

@TooTTootY

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.

I don't think people are saying there is evidence that it is transmitted that way but equally there's isn't evidence that it's definitely not, so it's a choice.

Also, most of what I would buy normally if I were shopping in store hasn't had to be touched by anyone else: fruit comes in crates, milk in those wheeled cages, cereal, crisps etc. stacked onto the shelves in their outer cardboard boxes and so on. But in the case of online shopping (conscious this is my situation and not everyone's) every single individual item has been handled, turned around until the barcode scanned and then bagged.

And Covid isn't seasonal flu. So as per my pp, I completely understand why others choose not to bother, but this is my reasoning. Flawed or not

@TooTTootY

Yes we do, DP insists that it's still a risk. All fruit and veg comes out of the packaging, fridge and freezer stuff gets cleaned as the virus can survive for a longer time in the cold. All other stuff (tins, jars, bottles etc) is quarantined in the garage for 72 hours

God, how tedious (and ridiculous).

If you don't want to -fine, but there's no need to be so rude about others who chose to eliminate more risks than you do

Yes we are.

We have been shielding my baby. Having had her in intensive care and ventilated at 8 weeks old before Christmas (not covid obv) it makes u see things a little differently!

I have stopped washing individual bits of shopping but I still use hot soapy water to clean off the sides where the bags sat whilst I unpacked.

And Covid isn't seasonal flu

I am aware it isn't seasonal flu. But the point is, people with all sorts of bugs/viruses/flu whatever could have touched your shopping for years but people haven't been quarantining their shopping in the garage for years.

Even if you buy food from a shop and not online, people at the checkout still touch it and scan the barcode etc...

I spray and wipe the shopping, yes.
OH thinks I'm ridiculous- but I will continue to do it.

Yes. Better safe than sorry. Virus lives on hard surfaces for up to 3 days and of course packaging can be touched by many people before it gets to your hands - even other shoppers picking it up and putting back on the shelf or in the dridge.

I’m just washing my hands after unpacking and handling them.

@TooTTootY

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

The risk is low - maybe.

But 'maybe low' - isn't NO RISK

3 supermarket pickers were found to have covid in a near by supermarket - it's a risk

It's a risk some of us don't wish to take.

Never done it and don’t know anyone who has. The virus can live on surfaces under lab conditions but in real life it’s so delicate it dies on touch. Of course no one is going to issue guidance saying don’t wipe things down and it’s impossible. Folks can do what they please with their shopping, inc giving it a bleach bath or setting fire to it.

There were some people quarantining post for three days, instead of just chucking the outer layer and washing their hands...

Does putting something in an envelope for 18 hours kill the virus then?

Where did you get your maybe from? It says the risk is very low.

I have been washing all our groceries (not fruit and veg obvs)

It's a pain though and makes the shopping trips even more laborious. I'm thinking of quitting.

DH is the worrier here - I am more laid back about it. I do all the shopping, and also receive parcels from the postie, bring in the mail (I even open it).

I reckon after all this time and none of us have caught the virus then I can let it go a little.

I really don't understand people who think there is no risk from food packaging.

Of course there is potentially!

If we are told to wash and sanitise hands after touching door handles, doors, and anything outside or in a shop, how is a food packet any different?

It's been touched by people at the warehouse, people unpacking it at the shop, shelf stackers, delivery drivers, other shoppers, and so on.

Also the virus lives better at below 4C so your fridge won't kill it.

@Lucindainthesky

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.

Lucinda I find it easier to open the post & deal with it, (Needs action/filing or mostly into the recycling I then wash my hands. That way I don't miss anything important and just have a few things to file after a few days of quarantine!

3 supermarket pickers were found to have covid in a near by supermarket - it's a risk

Just because they happen to work as food pickers doesn't mean they didn't get the virus the way the evidence suggests people do, via human to human transmission.

@Laiste

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?

This was the logic that occured to me very early on.

Traces is an important word. When DS1 has multiple allergies, we still ate foods that could contain "traces" as to not do so would have left it very difficult to not have a blanced diet and that overrode the tiny risk of reaction. Traces of a virus also do not mean that it is in a condition to overwhelm an immune system, especially when it has a normal level of function.

In my teenage years, my school friend was consumed by OCD. Rituals over this, that and everything that had to be started over if not completed correctly. Wiping groceries seemed too much like the start of a slippery slope to obsessive behaviour with little end point.

Besides, after buying the stuff, it's bad enough just putting it away!

The virus can live on surfaces under lab conditions but in real life it’s so delicate it dies on touch

So everything we've told about surfaces and handwashing is untrue and we should believe your opinion instead?

Never have done this

We did ‘quarantine’ groceries for a while, and bathed anything suitable in a Milton solution, but haven’t done it for several weeks now. TBH dh was a lot more twitchy than I was, but he’s rather less so now.