Around the world, the COVID-19 situation is evolving daily. Food Retail is a vital sector, and in most cases, stores remain open to serve their communities.
This page provides resources based on CDC and WHO guidelines as well as Ecolab’s own expertise to support you in protecting your employees and customers.
Amid a global pandemic, with consumers highly concerned about health and food safety risks in the stores, food retailer need an effective protection that does not increase process complexity.
MARKETGUARD™ 365 provides digital checklist management and analytics to ensure safe food and healthy environments. Contact us for a free access to our digital COVID-19 checklist.
Businesses around the world are navigating unforeseen challenges around public health, brand reputation and customer trust. And food safety plays an important role in addressing these challenges. Read our latest blog on how to implement food safety best practices to protect your customers, employees and communities.
As consumers navigate how to safely buy groceries and supplies, we’re here to help you implement cleaning best practices and expert training to help keep food, stores and people clean and protected.
What can you do to optimally ensure your employees and customers' safety? Know the facts and find best practices and training resources here.
Download these resources to learn more about coronavirus and best practices for prevention and response.
While infection prevention is top priority today, it is not too soon to think about what happens next. Learn about resources to support your recovery.
What can you do to optimally ensure your employees and customers' safety? Know the facts and find best practices and training resources here.
While infection prevention is top priority today, it is not too soon to think about what happens next. Learn about resources to support your recovery.
How will COVID-19 affect industries around the world? What are the steps that Ecolab is taking to help ensure the best service to its communities and customers while helping them prepare for recovery?
Ecolab offers a variety of products and programs that are effective at reducing the spread of COVID-19 and other pathogens.
To help determine the right solutions for your needs, please contact your Ecolab representative.
Ecolab offers a variety of programs that are effective at reducing the spread of Coronavirus and other pathogens.
To help determine the right solutions for your needs, please contact your Ecolab representative.
STAY UP TO DATE ON COVID-19
The situation with COVID-19 evolves daily, as retailers keep supplying consumers with essential goods. Ecolab is your trusted partner, providing guidance and expertise on how to help combat the spread of the virus and reduce risk for shoppers and associates. Complete this form to stay up to date on infection prevention as well as the road to recovery, and opt-in to receive promotional information specific to the food retail industry.
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Good hand hygiene is critical to stemming the spread of bacterial and viral infections. Frequently washing your hands and using proper protocols is something we can all do to help protect public health.
Good hand hygiene is critical to stemming the spread of bacterial and viral infections. Frequently washing your hands and using proper protocols is something we can all do to help protect public health.
Q&A WITH ECOLAB EXPERTS
Ecolab experts in public health and infection prevention provide guidance to customers facing challenges from COVID-19 in their business.
Q. How many times per day do I have to disinfect the surfaces inside the store.
A. Surface frequently touched by different people (door handles etc.) should be disinfected several times daily to reduce the risk of pathogen transmission. However, it must be noted that this does not replace employees and customer’s appropriate hand hygiene.
Q. Is it efficient to use not virucidal products on surfaces?
A. To tackle Coronavirus contamination disinfectants must have proven efficacy against enveloped viruses according to accepted standards. The corresponding information is given on the product label and in the use instruction.
Q. How do I choose the product which will kill SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19?
A. Under the European Biocide Products Regulation, the test norm EN 14476 against Vaccinia virus can be used to show efficacy against enveloped viruses in general. Since SARS-CoV-2 is an enveloped virus, this will also be covered by this test. Recommendations by the WHO or European CDC on the use of specific concentrations of chemicals like alcohol, active chlorine, hydrogen peroxide or benzalkonium chloride can also be used as criteria for the choice of products, depending on the regulatory situation in specific countries.
Q. Can food packages or food products help spread the virus?
A. Only surfaces touched by different people or contaminated with body secretions (cough or sneeze particles) can spread the virus. Touching goods without actually buying them should be discouraged.
Following good personal hygiene and proper food safety practices are key in ensuring the safety of the food being prepared.
Q. What happens if a grocery associate is identified to have COVID-19?
A. Public health authorities will give guidance on any further action to be taken. These may differ slightly depending on the epidemiological situation in different countries.
Q. Do I recall food products produced in the facility during the time that the worker was potentially shedding virus while working?
A. Workers who are sick should stay home, regardless of whether they have been confirmed to have COVID-19 or not. Facilities are also required to control any risks that might be associated with workers who are ill regardless of the type of virus or bacteria. For example, they are required to maintain clean and sanitized facilities and food contact surfaces and encourage appropriate hand hygiene and hygienic behavior by employees. The CDC does 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.
Q. Are hand sanitizers required at retail establishments?
A. You should refer to local regulatory requirements. According to U.S. the food code, hand sanitizers are not required unless hand soap and water are not readily available. However, as of April 1,2020, some counties are mandating the use of hand sanitizer.
According to the CDC, one of the most effective ways to protect yourself is to wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer.
Q. What is the difference between a sanitizer and a disinfectant?
A. Antimicrobials are sold for use against microorganisms on environmental surfaces and are regulated by the U.S. EPA. The difference between a sanitizer and disinfectant as defined by the EPA is:
Q. Is coronavirus transmitted through food?
A. Based on information from the COVID-19 pandemic thus far, it seems unlikely that coronavirus is transmitted through food. However, following good personal hygiene and proper food safety practices are key in ensuring the safety of the food being prepared.
Q. Do I recall food products produced in the facility during the time that the worker was potentially shedding virus while working?
A. Workers who are sick should stay home, regardless of whether they have been confirmed to have COVID-19 or not. Facilities are also required to control any risks that might be associated with workers who are ill regardless of the type of virus or bacteria. For example, they are required to maintain clean and sanitized facilities and food contact surfaces.
The CDC does 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.
The following Ecolab programs also offer a breadth of effective solutions that will support you as you work through the COVID-19 pandemic.
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