On 11 March 2020, the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has been declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization as the virus has spread to many countries. It’s the first time the WHO has called an outbreak a pandemic since the H1N1 “swine flu” in 2009. What is confirmed is that the virus is transmitted through direct contact with respiratory droplets of an infected person (generated through coughing and sneezing). Individuals can also be infected from and touching surfaces contaminated with the virus and touching their face (e.g., eyes, nose, mouth). Besides, the COVID-19 virus may survive on surfaces for several hours, yet disinfectants can kill it. On 9 March, the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) stated on their website that there is currently no evidence that food is a likely source or route of transmission of the novel coronavirus, and that they are closely monitoring the situation as any new information about the outbreak comes to light. EFSA’s opinion is based on the fact that 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. BfR, the federal institute of risk assessment in Germany concurred with the findings, stating that there are currently no cases that have shown any evidence of humans being infected with the new type of coronavirus by another method, such as via the consumption of contaminated food or via imported toys. Transmission via surfaces which have recently been contaminated with viruses is, nonetheless, possible through smear infections. This is only likely to occur during a short period after contamination, due to the relatively low stability of coronaviruses in the environment. This virus is not SARS, it’s not MERS, and it’s not influenza. It is a unique virus with unique characteristics WHO Director General A recent review analyzed 22 studies and revealed that human coronaviruses such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) coronavirus, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus or endemic human coronaviruses (HCoV) can persist on inanimate surfaces like metal, glass or plastic for up to 9 days, but can be efficiently inactivated by surface disinfection procedures with 62–71% ethanol, 0.5% hydrogen peroxide or 0.1% sodium hypochlorite within 1 minute. Other biocidal agents such as 0.05–0.2% benzalkonium chloride or 0.02% chlorhexidine digluconate are less effective This is what we know “so far”. As the WHO Director-General stated “This virus is not SARS, it’s not MERS, and it’s not influenza. It is a unique virus with unique characteristics”, and scientists are working around the clock to address critical gaps in knowledge. In a recent study (US government work) conducted by the National Institutes of Health, Princeton University and the University of California, Los Angeles, with funding from the U.S. government and the National Science Foundation, Covid-19 was detected up to three hours later in the air, up to four hours on copper, up to 24 hours on cardboard and up to two to three days on plastic and stainless steel. Revise and update the health policy Having said that, while there is a lot of uncertainty in the situation, it is advisable that food processors evaluate the current practices inside their organization and manage staff who may be carriers or infected with the Coronavirus. Reviewing and updating the existing disease control/health policy while considering recent recommendations and requirements of the local authorities is paramount. Did you address in your your policies address any food to which an ill employee may have had exposure, including whether the policies address whether there are conditions present that would support a company decision to place food on hold pending advice from the public health authorities. Here are the CDC recommended strategies for employers to use which may help may help prevent workplace exposures to acute respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19. Many of the steps described in the CDC link are useful and apply to every food facility, yet as a food facility outside the US, you will refer to the guidance, updates and travelers’ health notices of local authorities to determine whether there are any local requirements to contact public health authorities in the event an employee in the workplace has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and to establish procedures for handling other employees who may have come in contact with the diagnosed employee. Top management should encourage employees with symptoms to stay home and get prepared for the sudden absenteeism and shortage of staff. Besides the disease control plan, precautionary hygiene measures are of significant importance. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued recommendations including advice on following good hygiene practices during food handling and preparation, such as washing hands, cooking meat thoroughly and avoiding potential cross-contamination between cooked and uncooked foods. Similarly, many local authorities such as in Belgium also emphasized those practices. As simple as this seems to be, translating messages into practices is not easy and often undermined with barriers that need to be understood. In practice, it requires instilling a hygiene culture to ensure the highest levels of hygiene measures, particularly when food processors may face the situation of operating with staff shortages and absenteeism. A hygiene culture in a way it does not require the staff to think much about it! it is a culture shared at all levels of the organization from top management to production staff. Have you included in your contingency plan re-evaluating your hygiene standards? The topic of today is focused on hand hygiene, which must not be overlooked in your Covid-19 training tool box. What have you done to highlight this issue in your organization? It would be great if you share your experience with others in the comment box. I am sharing some of the key messages you may like to consider to reinforce the hand washing practices: Hygiene Culture 1- Assign competent staff to stay aware of recent news and updates on the COVID-19 outbreak, how it is transmitted and how to prevent transmission. Information are available on the CDC, ECDC, WHO websites, and local health authorities.

As the global pandemic of COVID-19 continues to bring about turmoil and health threats, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued guidance to communicate the temporarily drop of the supplier verification onsite audit requirements for receiving facilities and importers under the  FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) provided other supplier verification methods are used instead. The Preventive Controls for Human Food (PC Human Food) rule requires receiving facilities to conduct supplier verification activities based on the hazard analysis conducted as part of their written Food Safety Plan. These verification activities generally include onsite audits, sampling and testing, or a review of food safety records. Receiving facilities may determine onsite audits to be the most appropriate supplier verification activity. However, many governments have taken strict measures to limit unnecessary inland and out-land travels in an effort to curb the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. Such much needed restrictions may impact the ability of receiving facilities to conduct or obtain onsite audits of their suppliers. Therefore, the guidance outlines the circumstances under which FDA does not intend to enforce the requirement to conduct or obtain an onsite audit of a food supplier when the food supplier is in a country or region covered by a government travel restriction or advisory related to COVID-19. The FDA anticipates that receiving facilities will resume onsite audits within a reasonable period of time after it becomes practicable to do so, and update their food safety plans accordingly.  FDA intends to provide timely notice before withdrawing this policy. Specifically, FDA does not intend to enforce the requirement foran onsite audit in the following circumstances: A receiving facility has determined that an onsite audit is the appropriate verification activity for an approved supplier, as reflected by its written food safety plan or FSVP; The supplier that is due for an onsite audit is in a region or country covered by a government travel restriction or travel advisory related to COVID-19; Because of the travel restriction or travel advisory, it is temporarily impracticable for the receiving facility to conduct or obtain the onsite audit of the supplier; and The receiving facility temporarily selects an alternative verification activity or activities, such as sampling and testing food or reviewing relevant food safety records, and modifies its food safety plan to incorporate the alternative activity or activities. The alternative verification activity or activities are designed to provide temporary assurance that the hazard requiring a supply-chain-applied control has been significantly minimized or prevented during the period of onsite audit delay. FDA anticipates that receiving facilities will resume onsite audits within a reasonable period of time after it becomes practicable to do so, and update their food safety plans accordingly.  FDA intends to provide timely notice before withdrawing this policy. Sources: The Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition Constituent Update