COVID-19 Info/Resources

Sanitizers

How can a cleaning and sanitation company claim that a specific sanitizing product can be used effectively during the COVID-19 outbreak?

During an outbreak of a new virus like COVID-19, no products exist on the market that can make claims to kill the virus. This is due to the simple fact that the virus was not available to test and it can take up to 1 year or more to get a viral claim approved by a regulatory agency. For this reason, certain countries have enacted ‘hierarchy-based’ policies. This means that if a company’s product has been found to be effective against harder to kill viruses, it is likely to kill a virus like COVID-19. In the US, products must be pre-approved by US EPA to make Emerging Viral Pathogen claims before Ecolab can recommend them to a customer for use against an emerging viral pathogen such as COVID-19. On March 13, 2020 US EPA made a decision to allow the use of products with claims against viruses similar to SARS-CoV-2, such as Human Coronavirus, in addition to products with "Emerging Viral Pathogen" claims during the COVID pandemic.

US EPA has published an updated its list of approved products, List N, to include these products alongside pre-approved products with Emerging Viral Pathogen claims https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-n-disinfectants-use-against-sars-cov2. This new list aligns with CDC guidance on disinfectants. The list is updated weekly. 

Recalls

Recalling potentially affected product if COVID-19 positive employee?

FDA - “Do I need to recall food products produced in the facility during the time that the worker was potentially shedding virus while working?

We do not anticipate that food products would need to be recalled or be withdrawn from the market because of COVID-19, as there is currently no evidence to support the transmission of COVID-19 associated with food or food packaging.

Additionally, facilities are required to control any risks that might be associated with workers who are ill regardless of the type of virus or bacteria. For example, facilities are required to maintain clean and sanitized facilities and food contact surfaces.”

Food

Is the U.S. food supply safe?

FDA - Currently there is no evidence of food or food packaging being associated with transmission of COVID-19. 

Unlike foodborne gastrointestinal (GI) viruses like norovirus and hepatitis A that often make people ill through contaminated food, SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, is a virus that causes respiratory illness. Foodborne exposure to this virus is not known to be a route of transmission.

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. 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. However, it’s always critical to follow the 4 key steps of food safety—clean, separate, cook, and chill – to prevent foodborne illness.

Additional from Cornel’s Institute for Food Safety Covid-19 page:

  1. Visit this page to find statement from CDC about food associated transmission of COVID-19. Posted on March 17, 2020.

  2. Visit this page to find statement from European Food Safety Authority about food associated transmission of COVID-19. Posted on March 17, 2020.

  3. Visit this page to find statement from German Institute of Risk Assessment about food associated transmission of COVID-19. Posted on March 17, 2020.