Shopping germs
There is no need to wash or disinfect food shopping after returning from the supermarket, according to Safefood.
Last month saw the biggest amount of grocery sales ever recorded.
Irish people spent €122 million euro on groceries - an increase of 27%.
But a combination of extra shopping and fears of virus contamination means some people are spending up to an hour washing and disinfecting groceries.
More Irish households than before have ordered groceries online, with one in 10 placing an order in the four weeks to 22nd of March.
Takeaways have also increased since the lockdown began.
Safefood says loose fruit and veg should be washed thoroughly before use and leftovers should be put in the fridge as soon as they're cool
Safefood says:
"It is not necessary to sanitise the outside of food packaging.
"While there is some evidence that the virus can survive on hard surfaces, the risk from handling food packing is very low and there is no evidence that the illness can be transmitted in this way.
"If you are sanitising surfaces or shopping bags, follow the manufacturer’s instructions about how much time is needed before wiping the sanitiser off.
"Gloves can give a false sense of security. They would need to be changed very frequently to be effective.
"It’s better to wash your hands often and avoid touching your face."
For more advice go to safefood.ie
