WEDNESDAY, July 13, 2022
Had COVID? Chances are you’ll need to blank your freezer out.
A brand new find out about means that cousins of the SARS-CoV-2 virus can live to tell the tale on frozen meat and fish for as much as 30 days.
The analysis — induced via COVID outbreaks in Asia wherein packaged meat was once suspected because the virus’ supply — was once performed on frozen hen, pork, red meat and salmon. The findings had been revealed June 11 in Implemented and Environmental Microbiology, a magazine of the American Society for Microbiology.
“Even if you may no longer retailer meat within the refrigerator for 30 days, you may retailer it within the freezer for that lengthy,” mentioned first creator Emily Bailey, assistant professor of public well being at Campbell College in Buies Creek, N.C.
Her workforce performed its analysis with out use of the particular coronavirus that reasons COVID-19. As a substitute, researchers depended on surrogate viruses with identical protein spikes.
Those identical viruses had been put on frozen meat and fish, which was once then saved in each fridge temperatures (39.2 levels Fahrenheit) and freezer temperatures (-4 F.)
“We even discovered that the viruses might be cultured after [being frozen for] that duration of time,” Bailey mentioned in a magazine information unencumber.
Researchers mentioned their findings are vital as a result of SARS-CoV-2 can reproduce within the intestine, no longer simply within the respiration tract the place the general public really feel its results.
3 virus lines had been used as surrogates within the find out about, together with two animal coronaviruses. All 3 had been used as stand-ins in earlier research of SARS-CoV-2.
The researchers discovered that the viruses did not fare as smartly in refrigerated temperatures as in freezer temperatures. The numbers additionally differed via meals merchandise.
They mentioned this find out about underlines the significance of rigorous sanitation within the harvest, shipping, packaging and distribution of meals merchandise.
“Persevered efforts are had to save you contamination of meals and meals processing surfaces, employee arms, and meals processing utensils similar to knives,” the authors wrote, including that the disinfection of meals previous to packaging additionally must be addressed.
Additional information
For extra about holding meals protected all over the COVID pandemic, discuss with the U.S. Division of Agriculture.
SOURCE: Implemented and Environmental Microbiology, information unencumber, July 11, 2022
Via Ellie Quinlan Houghtaling HealthDay Reporter
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