Can You Get Coronavirus From Food? CDC Reaffirms Stance On Food Safety As Restaurants Begin To Reopen

As cities like New York begin plans to reopen thousands of restaurants in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the concern over contracting the virus from food has resurfaced for many.

“Currently, there is no evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 spreads to people through food,” the CDC’s official coronavirus webpage reads. “However, it is important to safely handle and continue to cook foods to their recommended cooking temperatures to prevent foodborne illness.”

The CDC's official stance on COVID-19 remains unchanged in terms of food and drink since the early days of the pandemic. Its guide for the virus also states that it is incapable of growing on food, as viruses require living hosts to multiply, and that no traces of the novel coronavirus have been found in drinking water.

The CDC continues to assure that the coronavirus is primarily spread through respiratory actions, like breathing, talking or sneezing. Therefore, the risk of catching the virus at a restaurant is no different than at any other establishment, so long as they enforce social distancing, require masks, and maintain sufficient kitchen safety.

Last week, the CDC also released new guidelines for individuals to help minimize their risk of infection while going out in public.

The rules and suggestions are largely the same as they have been for the duration of the pandemic: wear a mask, wash hands frequently, practice social distancing, and generally try to minimize extended interactions with others as much as possible.

“In general, the more closely you interact with others and the longer that interaction, the higher the risk of Covid-19 spread,” the CDC said in its guidelines.