Is it safe for all those fruit and vegetables to be out in the open, easily handled -- and put back -- by any number of strangers? What about salad bars and those tongs?
Timothy Blair was shopping at a Ralphs supermarket in West Los Angeles the other day, and he had the same thought that I and possibly many other people have had while traversing the produce aisles.
Experts in consumer behavior say such stockpiling is understandable and not entirely irrational at a time when consumers are still coming to terms with the coronavirus.The question of supermarket food safety is one that’s received less attention but may be of growing concern as the virus spreads. Michael T. Roberts, executive director of the Resnick Center for Food Law and Policy at UCLA, said even though there’s been scant official guidance on the risks of supermarket shopping, “everyone should be thoroughly washing their produce.”I reached out to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for safety tips on purchasing fruits and vegetables. A spokesman told me to contact the Food and Drug Administration.
“It will take some considerable time for consumers to adjust to the new realities of life during a pandemic.”Along with anticipating increased demand for self-checkout and home deliveries, FMI advises food companies not to spook customers with unusual safety measures related to the coronavirus. “Consumers should continue to practice personal hygiene and general food safety practices,” she said.I stopped by the same Ralphs that Blair visited, in Westwood Village across from UCLA. It seemed like business as usual in the produce section.
Over in the deli section, the prepared foods in the salad and buffet section all had tongs and serving spoons — in some cases sitting right on top of the food.
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