Keeping Food SAFE

At Dana, we are dedicated to continuing to follow the facts related to COVID–19 and adapting our food safety policies, standards, and procedures to ensure all guests and employees are SAFE. 

Since the start of the pandemic in early 2020, scientists and food safety authorities around the world have been closely monitoring the spread of COVID-19. At the time of this article, there are currently no confirmed cases of COVID-19 or its new variants being spread through food or food packaging. To be more specific, the FDA, CDC and USDA are all in agreement that there is an exceedingly low risk of viral transmission via food or food packaging. Viruses need a human live host to survive.

 

“Washing your hands constantly during your day and prior to eating, is paramount, you don’t need to stress about wiping down your groceries and takeout. Your efforts are much better spent masking up and social distancing” says, Julia Fawcett, Food Safety Auditor/Consultant at Dana Hospitality.

Julia Fawcett

Based on the updated guidance released August 2, 2021 from FAO’s ‘COVID-19: Guidance for preventing transmission of COVID-19 within food businesses’ as well as Health Canada’s recommended actions for food businesses, we will continue with our current standard cleaning and sanitizing procedures which are effective at disinfecting the food service areas.

Based on the latest research, sited in the FAO document, ‘It is highly unlikely that people can contract COVID-19 from food or food packaging (Goldman, 2020; ICMSF, 2020; NZFSSRC, 2020). Evidence to date does not indicate that food/food packaging is an important pathway for the spread of human respiratory illnesses’.

Notes:

  • Health Canada reports there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 being spread through food/food packaging.
  • Yes, some respiratory droplets may land on surfaces surrounding infected people, but coronaviruses cannot multiply in food or on inanimate surfaces.
  • Yes, the detection of virus remnants on foods/food packaging provides evidence of previous contamination. There is currently no scientific evidence confirming that food/food packaging is associated with transmission of COVID-19.

To ensure good food hygiene around food areas, our staff and guests need to follow protocols that we have in place to control person-to-person transmission of the virus causing COVID-19.

To learn more: