Our Food and Safety in Covid-19 Times
Our Food and Safety in Covid-19 Times
COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. (1) The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person. This includes between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet), and through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
Unlike foodborne gastrointestinal (GI) viruses that often make people ill through contaminated food, SARS-CoV-2, is a virus that causes respiratory illness. It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes, but this is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.
Covid-19 has affected all aspects of daily life, including family, health, work, travel, tourism, food & food supplies.
Every day, you handle, cook, and prepare food for you and your family. What and how we eat affects our health, wellbeing, and immunity.
The FDA website describes that “FDA’s Food Code recommendations for hand washing and glove use in food service and retail food stores have not changed as a result of the pandemic.” (2)
At Pasta Gluten Free, we have more than 15 years of experience in the food business doing fresh gluten free pasta.
During this time of uncertainty, we want to reach out to our customers and let them know that as a tradition, we take pride in food hygiene and cleanliness practices as a top priority.
We will continue to follow established food safety protocols and best practices for retail food establishments and important COVID-19 recommendations, including the following:
1) Our team personnel use personal protective equipment (masks and disposable gloves).
2) Frequent and proper hand washing.
3) Social distancing
4) The main 4 key steps of food safety—clean, separate, cook, and chill – to prevent foodborne illness.
5) Wash, rinse, and sanitize food contact surfaces, dishware, utensils, food preparation surfaces, and beverage equipment after use.
6) Frequently disinfect surfaces repeatedly touched by employees or customers.
7) Prepare and use sanitizers according to label instructions.
8) Frequently clean and disinfect floors, counters, and other facility access areas using EPA (United States, Environmental Protection Agency) registered disinfectants.
9) Minimize the time that foods being stored, displayed, or delivered could be in the danger zone.
10) Foods will continue to be cooked to a safe minimum internal temperature to destroy any harmful bacteria. Color and texture are unreliable indicators of safety.
Because the intensity of the COVID-19 outbreak may difficult accrue in some places, to get specific food products for people with Gluten sensitivity or Wheat allergy.
As we did before, we continue to offer safe and nationwide delivery of our products via UPS and FedEx or Sysco Co. for the foodservice industry.
We are happy to continue to deliver our Gluten Free Pasta and Gluten Free Bakery products nationwide.
Stay well and be safe. We look forward to hear from you.
Pasta Loioco
roberto@pastaglutenfree.com
References
1)https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/index.html