Everyone knows that daily life during the pandemic is not easy. During this period, there is more need to do daily activities with proper attention than usual. We should also be careful about buying food and other necessary items to eat. Everyday life must be maintained during the pandemic, but risk must be minimized. How to Wash and Store Groceries Amid the Pandemic?

Even though the pandemic is out, we still need to buy things for the house. But it is our responsibility to make it safer. But what steps can we take to protect ourselves from the risk? Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health is very concerned about the safety of the people. They have a series of tips to protect yourself from the plague, and we’ll explain some of the ones you’ll need here.

Since the spread of the COVID-19 virus, many people have always asked whether I can get the coronavirus when I touch things or buy stuff at the grocery store. There are always several safety precautions you can take for this. Let’s look at some rules from grocery shopping to packing them at home.

The most critical first rule is to not go to the grocery if you have any physical discomfort.

Keep your distance.

Maintain a personal distance of 6 feet in any public place you go to, not just in the grocery store during a pandemic. When you are shopping, keep your distance until someone walks past you. 

After placing the purchased items on the conveyor belt, stand at a distance until the baggers have completed their work. The most important thing is using a credit card instead of cash for purchases.

Use disinfectants.

From the moment you go to the grocery store, be mindful of what your body may touch. Use disinfectants well on them. You can use the dispenser for hand hygiene. Disinfect the grocery cart thoroughly before handling it by hand.

Be careful when choosing food at the store. Fresh produce is safe to wash. Immunocompromised or compromised consumers should be cautious when consuming packaged or frozen foods. Be careful with prepackaged vegetables or fruits.

Use plastic bags and dispose of them at home.

You have to remove the reusable bags. All grocery bags carry bacteria into your home during a pandemic. With the prevalence of the virus, you can safely dispose of plastic bags at home.

Wash hands.

When discussing How to Wash and Store Groceries Amid the Pandemic, let’s look at the relevant steps at home. It is common for you to wash your hands frequently during the pandemic. Wash your hands with soap & water for at least 20 seconds after removing the packaging material you brought from the store. 

Avoid touching your mouth, nose, and eyes again if you feel a surface containing the virus. The Qatar Health Center and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn that you can contract the virus if such situations are improperly handled.

Ensure surface hygiene.

Remove the groceries you brought from the store and disinfect the entire counter. For that, anything at the touch level applies after you return home. Clean the car’s steering wheel, mobile phone, door handles, and handles; door handles light switches.

Wash products

It is essential for you to ask about How to Wash and Store Groceries Amid the Pandemic. When you go to any grocery store, it is recommended that shopkeepers wash fresh produce regularly to prevent the spread of E. coli and Salmonella viruses; however, washing fruits and vegetables is recommended to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 virus. that is,

  • Wash leafy greens, including lettuce, in cold water.
  • Use a scrub brush to wash produce with a rough texture on the surface, such as potatoes and carrots.
  • Wash raw meat, eggs, seafood, and cutting boards with warm, soapy water.
  • Wash all fruits and vegetables. Cut off their damaged areas. Then, wash the fruits and vegetables under running water for about 20 seconds without using commercial products such as soap.
  • Clean complex products like melons and cucumbers with a clean brush.

Add lemon juice or vinegar to your water to clean your products and kill germs naturally.

Also, at the same time, wipe your containers well—Disinfect aluminum cans, product packaging, glass bottles, and plastic containers, i.e., anything without holes. Wipe them before you put them in the cupboard or fridge.

Store properly.

Store all the products you bought from the store correctly. Only pack some of the products in one pile. Certain items must be refrigerated when packaged. Store others properly in dry places.

Instructions for Wash and Store Groceries Amid the Pandemic

  • Avoid cross-contamination between the raw foods you bring.
  • Use separate plates & utensils for cooked and raw food.
  • Use separate plates and cutlery for meat, poultry, eggs, and seafood.
  • Thoroughly wash all plates and cutlery that have touched raw meat, eggs, or seafood before reuse. Use soapy water for that.
  • Place raw meat, seafood, and poultry in containers or plastic bags when storing. Only freeze them if you will be using them soon.
  • When storing eggs, please keep them in the original carton in the refrigerator and the main compartment. Do not store it in the door.
  • After cooking, keep food at 140 degrees or higher. Also, leave food for up to two hours.
  • If it is a perishable food, keep it in the refrigerator for 2 hours. Also, please only keep them in the fridge for that time.
  • Do not marinate or thaw your counter food.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Do I have to wear gloves in the grocery store?

It is not recommended that you wear gloves in public. They can speed up the spread of germs. Wear gloves when you come into contact with a potentially infected surface. Then remove them.

Q. Should I wear a mask when going to a grocery store?

Yes. When you go out during the epidemic, wear a mask to stop the spread of the disease to others. A show can prevent you from spreading the virus if you are asymptomatic.

Q. Are cooked or raw foods safer?

Well-cooked food. Cooking food at 140 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes kills SARS.

Final thoughts

We know that the corona epidemic is spreading faster. It proliferates on any surface, and protection is among your responsibilities. You should pay special attention to your safety when you are away from home, including when shopping. Practice good hygiene, including hand washing & awearing a mask. Take care of your ingredients and your safety from purchase to packaging.