There is currently “no evidence that food is a likely source or route of transmission” of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, the EFSA –European Food Safety Agency has concluded. The Agency, based in one of the affected regions in the north of Italy, which has been subject to emergency restrictions on movement imposed by the Italian government, confirms that the virus is spreading from person to person mainly via respiratory droplets that people sneeze, cough, or exhale.
“Previous outbreaks of related coronaviruses, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), show that transmission through food consumption did not occur. At the moment, there is no evidence to suggest that coronavirus is any different in this respect” said EFSA’s chief scientist, Marta Hugas.
