Would you still get a take away?

[Bridgeofpies]

Obviously all local restaurants have closed now (and rightly so). DH and I sometimes get a take away from our local Thai which is amazing and he really wants to get one tonight. They are still open for take away and you can pick it up direct contact free.

If we sanitise our hands after touching the bags / containers and don’t wait inside the building at all, is it safe to get a take away?

Would you get one?

All of these people who say the food could be infected: on that basis, so could anything you buy from a supermarket. Factory packaging lines are operated by people, not to mention all of those who have come into contact with the packet before it reaches the shelf.

Yes, I would have a takeaway. It would need to be from somewhere I know had a good standard of hygiene though. One of our local restaurants shut a week ago now as they didn't want to put people at risk (owner is immunocompromised too). They've started doing takeaways now so we will be going there.

And I'd love to see how you wash a cake, sausage roll, or loaf of bread.

Evidence shows it's safe. The main risk is the delivery process, which if you minimize contact and wipe down containers before taking out the food is low risk too.

Please support your favourite restaurants and take aways during this time. I am choosing to do this because it gives more of a chance of those businesses not closing down and resuming normal operations when this is all over. And also, at times I'm sick of cooking

I understand the uncertainty & totally agree that we need to be prudent in every way.
Here's a statement from the European Food Standards Agency regarding food borne transmission. Hope you find it helpful.

EFSA is closely monitoring the situation regarding the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) that is affecting a large number of countries across the globe. There is currently no evidence that food is a likely source or route of transmission of the virus.
EFSA’s chief scientist, Marta Hugas, said: “Experiences from previous outbreaks of related coronaviruses, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), show that transmission through food consumption did not occur. At the moment, there is no evidence to suggest that coronavirus is any different in this respect.”

All of these people who say the food could be infected: on that basis, so could anything you buy from a supermarket. Factory packaging lines are operated by people, not to mention all of those who have come into contact with the packet before it reaches the shelf.

Yes, which is why I wipe down and disinfect any outside packaging before putting them away.

Yes, which is why I wipe down and disinfect any outside packaging before putting them away.

You take takeaway food out of the packaging, presumably, and put it on a plate before washing your hands. What's the difference? If cv was transmitted by food, it could be in that danish you bought from tescos just as easily as your takeaway.

No.
But I like to prepare and cook my own food anyway as I have allergies

I have been doing, as expert bodies say it's safe.
Have you ever thought you got flu from having a take away pizza? If not, then this is no different. Respiratory viruses are very different from the typical causes of food poisoning (which are mainly bacterial) anyway.

If it is a restaurant usually it will be following strict hygiene guidelines. If you would normally eat in the restaurant without fear of food poisoning then why would this be different? Food cooked, put in takeaway container passed through to you
With no contact.

You can disinfect the packaging if you want, or wear gloves but CRUCIALLY if you want to support local workers and keep businesses ticking along for when we get out of this PLEASE do so.

To put it in perspective, regardless of any bailouts which no one actively want to use unless necessary, the hospitality industry (whole including hotels and large chains) at any boom time has 3-6 weeks worth of cash, it’s already lost a week. In this country it employs 1.5 million people and supports countless others in the chain of food and drink production.

So yes, get your takeaway and really enjoy it as there is no a single worker within the industry that would be stupid enough to try and give you Covid-19.

it could be in that danish you bought from tescos just as easily as your takeaway.

Indeed. Which is why I wouldn't buy any of the bread, rolls or pastries lying in open shelves for people to cough on.

Yes. And McDonalds Drive Through.

Yes it’s my sons birthday tomorrow and he wanted to go to Pizza Hut since he can’t we are going to order it instead.

No. Vulnerable family members in 12 week isolation. Can’t be sure the chef hasn’t coughed on the food while boxing it up.

@Rosey - Thank you. That is really helpful.

Yes, we will get a curry tonight or tomorrow, to support our local restaurant. When it arrives, it will go straight into the oven (in its carton or decanted into a Pyrex depending on whether the carton is plastic or foil...) for a few minutes while we discard the packaging and wash hands, surfaces.

I think this is probably over the top because there’s no evidence of transmission on foods, but doing “take control” things seem to keep the physical manifestations of my anxiety at bay. So that’s what I’m doing.

Just ordered Chinese. From our local. I want it still to be there when all this is over.

Absolutely. Please read up on the facts around transmission via food. There is absolutely zero evidence showing that this is how CoViD can spread. It’s why establishments may be closed for in house dining but kitchens can still be open to cater for delivery.

Would I try somewhere new and unknown? No.
But the established local businesses I still want to be around after all of this is done? Absolutely.

Did it yesterday. Driver rang bell. Put food on doorstep. Had backed well away and simply waved and walked away. Unboxed. Washed hands. Ate.

The risk is the same as any other so yes.

When you pick up that tin on beans (if you can find any), you have no idea if it’s virus free. Someone may have sneezed in the supermarket and everything you touch from one aisle is covered. Everything is risky. There is nothing safe 100% unless you have enough food to last a year and won’t go out. You also need to have no deliveries at all, including post. It’s not possible. This will only slow down the passing of the virus not stop it and that’s what the government want. Most of us will get it regardless of the measures being taken.

I had one last night and I'll have a takeaway each weekend for as long as I can.

Also I live in a small village. The restaurants depend on local trade. They are now having to do takeaway - of course I’ll support them. Somewhere new I wouldn’t risk it. But the local places they will want us to return in the future - I think they will be careful.

I've been going to the same Indian restaurant for over 20 years and I'll support them as much as possible. They've got a 5 star hygiene rating and I'm no more worried about their standards than I was before!

Yes. I intend to up my takeaway orders to support local businesses.

Thank you all for your comments! I did some research and it looks like the risk is low to minimal because the virus doesn’t harm you if ingested (it is destroyed by your stomach acid), so you just need to be careful about touching the containers and then your face or being coughed on by the delivery person!

However we decided not to get a take away tonight (in case anyone was wondering ). But I think we will do in the coming weeks. Defo want to support the businesses I want to see when this is all over and I love Giggling Squid!!!

Yes enjoy a takeaway
Support your local business
takeaway food safer than food in supermarket that has far more points of contacts

Well our Chinese takeaway was yum!!!