The WHO has responded to China’s reported discovery of the virus in packaged chicken wings.
In a briefing in Geneva last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) said that it has seen no evidence of COVID-19 being transmitted by food packaging, and it urged consumers not to be afraid of the virus entering the food chain.
“People should not fear food, food packaging, or the processing or delivery of food,” said Mike Ryan, head of the WHO emergencies program. “There is no evidence that the food chain is participating in the transmission of this virus, and people should feel comfortable and safe.”
Earlier this month, officials in two cities in China reported that they had found traces of coronavirus in frozen chicken wings imported from Brazil and on the outer packaging of frozen Ecuadorian shrimp, causing some concern that contaminated food packaging could increase the spread of the virus. But WHO epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove said that China had tested hundreds of thousands of food packages and had found fewer than 10 that tested positive. Brazil’s Agriculture Ministry said in a statement that it was seeking clarification on China’s findings, and Ecuador’s production minister, Ivan Ontaneda, said his country maintains strict protocols and they cannot be held responsible for what happens to their products after they leave the country.
You can check out the full story of the briefing on the Food Quality and Safety website here.
We understand that concern over the spread of COVID-19 is affecting almost every aspect of our daily lives right now—and the guidelines can be confusing. We at AMGRAPH are committed to safety in all parts of our operation for both our customers and our employees. The food packaging we develop is manufactured to the highest health and safety standards, and we work closely with our customers to make sure we adapt to their individual needs and requirements.
We also understand that these guidelines will continue to evolve as we learn more about this disease, and we’re prepared for that, too. AMGRAPH will stay on the cutting edge, and we’ll make sure our customers always have the best information. If you are a food and beverage manufacturer, let us help you navigate the new landscape.
