During an epidemic, as people bring essential or other items home, the likelihood of coronavirus contracting increases. Professor of PGIMER’s Department of Community Medicine and School of Public Health, Drs. Sonu Goyal explains why sanitizers are not recommended to be used on fruits and vegetables and handling cooked food can be a cause for concern. Exposing myths, Professor Goyal sheds light on protocol while bringing essential goods to a house.

1.How can we ensure safety after receiving vegetables and fruits from vendors?

The virus is likely to live on fruits and vegetables for 6-8 hours and if they are exposed to heat, the virus will live for less than four hours. In any case, when one receives vegetables from vendors, the usual protocol should be to keep it out for four hours within a packet.

After the said time, dispose of the packets and pour the food into hot water or wash them with warm water and baking soda to ensure complete safety.

2. There are many who use sanitizers on vegetables and fruits. Is this a suitable method?

Sanitizers are not fully recommended for vegetables and fruits, but they can be harmful due to the presence of chemicals. In addition, there is no evidence that sanitizers can kill a virus on vegetables and fruits. Sanitizers are only useful for our hands, body, and metal or steel surfaces. Spraying chemicals on vegetables and fruits become more harmful because it is being sprayed on things that anyone will consume.

Hot water is sufficient or in hot water just add a drop of KMnO4 or potassium permanganate and immerse the food items in it. It is the safest to use and is also pocket-friendly. If one does not have potassium permanganate, baking soda can be used in hot water. Wear a mask while doing it.

3. What should be done in the case of items like bananas or onions that cannot be immersed in hot water or washed?

It is like a catch 22 situation especially now when the outside temperature is increasing and there are also perishable objects. Such items should be kept in a closed place where heat does not directly reach it. The purpose is not to expose yourself to these things and keep them out for 3-4 hours before consuming them. Do not cook these vegetables immediately and do not consume fruits.

4. How to clean the medicine strips?

Even in the case of drug strips, there is no evidence that sanitizers work on them. Keep them in a closed box at room temperature. They should not be exposed immediately after purchasing as they too have changed hands many times. Make sure that you do not put these medicines under direct sunlight as this may affect its efficacy.

5. Many companies have launched botanical sanitizers. Do you recommend them?

I do not know about the composition of these sanitizers. If these vegetable sanitizers contain KMnO4 or potassium permanganate, is it fit for use or not

6. What to do in case of groceries like cheese and milk which cannot be kept out for four hours?

If cheese and milk are packed, one must wash them with soapy water and dispose of the outer packet (while wearing a mask of all) immediately. However, these packets should not be left in the open dustbin. They should be discarded in such a way that they are not in direct contact with any human. In the case of items in plastic, metal, or cold drink cans, the virus can persist for 24–48 hours.

Thus, such items should not be refrigerated, but kept at room temperature where there is no human exposure.

7. Cooked food that has been safely ordered from outside? What about cooked food that is packed in boxes?

There is no problem with cooked food because it is already heated to boiling temperatures that the virus will not survive. Cooked food is not a problem, but its handling is a concern because someone must have packed it and then delivered it. It changes hands several times in the process. Ideally, one should avoid cooked food outside. If there are unavoidable circumstances, make sure that the packet it is coming in, such as a pizza box or cake box, is discarded immediately.

There is no evidence that sanitizers are effective on cardboard surfaces, thus, using it may prove futile.

8. What to do in case of cash, newspapers, or stationery items?

Many governments are cleaning books and recommending the same. This virus cannot persist or remain stable in newspapers, cash, or books for long. They should be kept outside for 2-3 hours before using one. Sanitizers cannot be of any use to them. Plastic or metal objects such as pens or pencil boxes can be sanitized because there is evidence that sanitizers work on them.

News Source: IndianExpress