Food Safety and COVID-19
INSIGHTi
Food Safety and COVID-19
July 9, 2020
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is thought to spread mainly from person to person through
respiratory droplets produced when an infected person sneezes, coughs, or speaks. Currently there is no
evidence indicating the transmission of COVID-19 through food, according to U.S. and international
public health agencies. However, China—a major U.S. agricultural export market—has reportedly started
to institute requirements to address COVID-19-related concerns about the safety of imported food, which
could impact global agricultural trade.
Evidence of Food Safety Risk
In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states “there is no evidence to
suggest that handling food or consuming food is associated with COVID-19.” The U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) states that the agency is “not aware of any reports at this time of human illnesses that
suggest COVID-19 can be transmitted by food or food packaging.” USDA further indicates there is no
evidence to support transmission of COVID-19 associated with food imported to the United States from
other countries. While there may be the potential for transmission through contaminated surfaces—for
example, if someone with an active infection coughs on packaging later touched by a non-infected person
who then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth—the risk of such transmission is low, according to the CDC.
To avoid transfer through contaminated surfaces, it is necessary to follow good hygiene practices.
At food production facilities, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), an agency of the Department of
Health and Human Services, asserts the need to take necessary precautions to protect workers and
minimize the disease transmission, including practicing social distancing and disinfecting surfaces, as
well as ensuring workers have access to personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks and gloves.
While some labeling requirements have been temporarily relaxed to provide regulatory flexibility to food
producers related to COVID-19 (for example, certain food nutrition labeling requirements, packaging and
labeling requirements for shell eggs, and menu labeling requirements), U.S. food safety standards and
requirements have otherwise remained in effect. Because of the ongoing crisis, however, some facility
inspections have been delayed or rescheduled. For the meat and poultry industries, CDC and the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration have issued guidance outlining steps that meatpacking
and meat processing workers and employers should follow to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19.
There is also a consensus among international organizations that COVID-19 transmission is not
associated with food and food consumption. The World Health Organization (WHO), an agency of the
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United Nations, states there is “currently no evidence that people can catch COVID-19 from food or food
packaging.” WHO further claims coronaviruses cannot multiply in food but require a live animal or
human host to multiply and survive. WHO considers food packaging, preparation, and delivery safe if
proper hygiene protocols are followed such as hand washing and sanitization. WHO has issued guidance
for governmental authorities responsible for national food safety control systems to contain widespread
food safety risks and to reduce serious disruption to national food safety programs. The guidance also
emphasizes the need for PPE to help reduce the spread of disease among workers within the food sector.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has also issued guidance for
additional food safety measures related to COVID-19 for food businesses and wholesale food markets.
WHO, FAO, and the World Trade Organization (WTO) have acknowledged the role of food safety
standards in promoting fair practices in food trade. They have called on national governments to minimize
the impact of COVID-19-related border restrictions on food trade to ensure food safety and food security.
Potential Trade Implications
Despite lack of evidence that COVID-19 is transmitted through food, concerns that restrictions related to
COVID-19 are affecting trade have been reported by U.S. agricultural producers regarding shipments to
certain countries. Specifically, in China, there have been reports of COVID-related product testing for
meat, seafood, fresh fruit, and bulk grains. According to U.S. fruit and vegetable exporters, China has also
instituted administrative measures requiring registration of foreign manufacturers and a Letter of
Commitment from foreign suppliers certifying that food shipments are not contaminated with
coronavirus. Such additional regulatory requirements have the potential to impact global trade and could
reduce or block U.S. food and agricultural exports.
In response, USDA and FDA issued a joint statement claiming the United States is “taking every
necessary precaution to prioritize food safety especially during these challenging times” and reiterating
that there is “no evidence that people can contract COVID-19 from food or from food packaging.” The
European Union has also stated “there has been no report of transmission of COVID-19 via consumption
of food to date,” which is further supported by the findings of its European Food Safety Authority.
Both the United States and the European Union have issued statements to the WTO’s Committee on
Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures arguing that these types of border restrictions are not based on risk.
Under WTO rules, global food safety regulations and standards are to operate within the framework of
internationally accepted trade rules and norms, including safety and public health protections addressed in
the multilateral Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement)
and the Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade. Under the SPS Agreement, for example, countries may
adopt and enforce public health and safety measures “necessary to protect human, animal or plant life or
health,” so long as such measures are not applied in an arbitrary or discriminatory manner. Yet trade
restrictions citing food safety concerns are often implemented through various SPS measures and other
technical regulations such as testing, registration, certification, and labeling requirements.
Congress may examine the extent to which U.S. food and agricultural exports might be affected by such
trade restrictions as the United States and its trading partners continue to grapple with the ongoing
COVID-19 crisis.
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Author Information
Renée Johnson
Specialist in Agricultural Policy
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