Is Takeaway/Delivery Food Definitely Free of Coronavirus and Safe to Consume without Heating?

We cook a lot these days but just wondering what do people think, for takeaway/delivery food…

What if a virus carrier sneezes/coughs onto the food before it's covered or sealed?

What if the utensils/cutlery/crockery used to prepare the food is infected by a virus carrier sneezing or coughing on them?

What if the delivery person who is a carrier touches the carry bag or coughs/sneezes on it?

What if the food (e.g. bread) is dropped on the floor or surfaces and picked up but now infected?

Edit:

Notes & Disclaimers:

  1. Not trying to destroy small businesses here. On the contrary, if restaurants can figure out how to overcome this somehow and get the message across, they could be rolling in dough with so many people stuck at home. You're welcome.

  2. Heat kills the virus according to most sources (see here)

  3. Here's a cute cartoon video about the virus to help you relax if you're anxious after reading and answering this poll.

Edit 2:

Amazing YouTube video find by SpaceNinja to address groceries and takeaway food safety concerns during this crisis.

Edit 3:

Blog pulling together various sources of info for everything food-related about Covid-19, credit to AEKaBeer.

Poll Options

  • 36
    Always heat food for n minutes before eating and wear gloves for handling bags/containers
  • 40
    Yes it's absolutely safe
  • 143
    No stay away from outside food just to be safe

Comments

      • +1

        If people are practicing social distancing and good hygiene, especially if they develop symptoms, then the likelihood of spreading it to someone else should not be high at all.

        • Agreed. If only everyone agreed with you. And not meaning that in a sarcastic way, but in a truthfully hopeful way.

        • +3

          But you can still be a carrier and spread it even if you are asymptomatic.
          Every single person needs to practice social distancing and do their absolute best to give everyone else a chance.
          Thinking ‘I don’t have symptoms so I don’t need to’, or ‘I’m not in the age bracket where it could be dangerous if I catch it’ puts not only yourself, but others (think your own grandparents, colleagues’ family members, staff/health care workers who are working during the pandemic and happen to serve you) at risk.

          • -2

            @zonra: Not disagreeing, but the fact remains the odds that you or anyone you encounter has the virus is tiny. Australia has 2k official cases out of a population of 25 million. That is less than 0.01%. 1 in 10,000.

            Worrying about catching the virus from a brief encounter with a takeaway/delivery order is just paranoia.

            • +1

              @Smulder: Out of interest, given the numbers are projected to rise markedly, what odds do you find acceptable, say if the virus hits 20% or 60% as some projections estimate. It seems efforts in China have outperformed these figures, but if 10% of the population have coronavirus, would you still buy takeaway?

              • @[Deactivated]: Even in Italy, the worst case at the moment, there are 60,000 cases out of a population of 60 million. That means 99.9% of people don't have it.

                By the time 60% of people have had it, 50% will have probably recovered already, having had only mild symptoms. I don't think the suggestionn is that 60% will have it all at the same time. Again that is just uninformed paranoia.

                If 60% of people have had it, odds are i have already had it too. And since the vast majority of cases are mild, i don't think there is any % when i wouldn't order takeaway.

                • +1

                  @Smulder: You are referring to the numbers of people who have tested positive, but only a small fraction of people have actually been tested. And those tested negative could be positive the next day. We have no idea how many people are carrying this virus. What we do know is, people of all ages and health can contract it, and die from it. The elderly and those with pre-existing conditions are more susceptible, but we are all at risk. And we can all pass it on. Estimates are that 40% of Australians contracted Spanish Flu.

                  • @BigBirdy: People who quote the fatality rate are also referring to numbers that have tested positive. Many more people than are reported have it, and aren't dying.

                    The average fatality age in Italy is 80. More than 75% had high blood pressure, about 35% had diabetes. Yes, there are cases of young people dying, but the odds are very small, less than 1%. To suggest otherwise is either ignorance or intentionally misleading.

                    I am not disagreeing that it is possible to catch it and die from it. But not ordering a delivery in fear s just unfounded paranoia.

                    • @Smulder: Everything I stated was fact. You are trying to underplay this because you think it won’t kill you. That is the ultimate selfish act as many Australians lives are dependent on us all working to contain this. I don’t give a rats about takeaway food. I care that people need to take this seriously and stop going to parties and the beach and spreading this because they are either ignorant, or only thinking about themselves. Our tested rate of infections, vastly under the actual rate, is doubling every 3-4 days. It doesn’t take much maths ability to understand that if we can’t reduce that rate our hospitals will be overwhelmed in 2-3 weeks. Even if we can double our ICU capacity, that would give us another 3 days before being overwhelmed.

                      • @BigBirdy: As I stated above, I believe people should practice social distancing and good hygiene. I am underplaying the odds of there being any serious repercussions of the OP ordering takeaway. That is the topic of the forum post. If you don't give a rats about takeaway food I am not sure why you are even commenting?

                        • @Smulder: Have a look at what you wrote that I responded to. Your post was about trivialising the consequences of COVID-19, using Italy as your example.

                          99.9% of people (in Italy) don’t have it
                          uninformed paranoia

                • +1

                  @Smulder: It's not uninformed paranoia, you just presuppose age/health demographics and mortality rates and are basing presumptions on limited first and second world experiences. Parts of Indonesia will surpass 10% simultaneous infection rates and will become Australia's ongoing issue to contain it. A primary objective of WA, NT and SA closing borders is to protect vulnerable communities that can easily have high rates of infection and high mortality.

                  • @[Deactivated]: No, I am just discussing the likelihood of catching the virus as a result of a takeaway or delivery order. The odds are small, and even if you do catch it, the odds are small that you will get very sick, and even smaller that you will die.

                    If the OP is an elderly, overweight smoker with high blood pressure and diabetes then I take it all back and apologise. They should definitely just cook at home.

                • @Smulder: don't forget that there is still chance someone can get infected again even after they have recovered…

                  https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families…

  • +2

    Unlikely to occur, the places are being hyper vigilant, at the moment.

    • any examples?

      • +2

        Any examples of places where people have caught Coronavirus from their food delivery? Every place I’ve got an email from, and there are a lot of them, have explained their current sanitation processes for the virus. If a place gets a whiff of being a likely contaminant source the social media will be brutal. Hence my comment, they are likely to be hyper vigilant.

        • +1

          doubt you can find out it's from the food?

        • give it another 3 weeks , it'll be everywhere on everyone and hospital beds will be full

          • +1

            @dcep: Probably but I doubt take away food will be the major source of transmission in the manner the OP is concerned about. I, suspect, handling things at the supermarket would be much more of a concern. The produce/products are in the open and anyone can pick them up and put them down again. Touching stair rails, escalator rails, door knobs, etc whilst the OP quests forth for his home cooking ingredients. Even if he orders stuff online, who knows if the anonymous packer, who desperately needs the job, isn’t hiding his/her low level infection. We need perspective on the sources of infection.

            • @try2bhelpful: Yes the difference is that

              • Takeaway/delivery food you ingest immediately, the virus if present goes into your system through your mouth.

              • Grocery shopping for items we cook the food, killing the virus. Wash our hands, killing the virus. There's much more prevention that can be done.

              What do you think?

              • +1

                @donamique: I think:
                - some things you make don’t involve cooking, like salads, or garnishes etc.
                - you take stuff off the shelves, put them in the trolley, then touch your face/nose; like people subconsciously do many times an hour.
                - when you are putting away your goods, preparing your meal, etc you are also touching your nose and mouth without realising.
                - the protocols for stopping transmission will be higher for takeaway foods than some random shelf stocker or supermarket “picker”

                I, also, think if you are concerned about transmission with takeaway you buy stuff you can heat up to a temperature to kill the bugs, in the same manner you do for cooking it yourself. You don’t have to buy something that is delivered luke warm and eat it without doing a bit of reheating.

                I think we all need to start thinking like adults.

                • @try2bhelpful: and not touch our faces without first washing our hands? lol.

                  • +1

                    @donamique: Why is that lol? That is the recognised guidelines on how to avoid infections. It is getting it into your respiratory tracks that are the main issue.

            • +1

              @try2bhelpful: IMO, all vectors for contamination should be avoided where practical.

              Takeaway in absolutely a vector for contamination.

              My issue with takeaway food is that you're eating the food, you're touching your food, you're touching the wrapping, you just handled the packaging - all possible carriers for 1 - 3 days (see: https://images.app.goo.gl/uVBTQYBGz6rG4Zkx9) - then putting it in your mouth again.

              I like takeaway as much as the next person, but right now I'm ok with doing without somethings.

    • +1

      I would have thought so too.
      The other day I went to my local fancy gourmet grocery to get some takeaway lunch (they have a deli counter with prepared meals). I assumed since this place is well run (and pricey) that they would have good hygiene.
      When the staff member served me, she grabbed the plastic container my food was going into with her bare hands, one finger on the inside of the container. I had to ask for another one and for her to wear gloves. So what's going on in restaurant kitchens where customers can't see?

      Note that I'm still ordering takeaway, at least of cooked food, because I think the chances of transmission are low, and I want to eat something different than my/my partner's cooking all the time, but it was a bit shocking to see such an obvious hygiene failure.

      • Yea I see that sometimes as well. the only way I can judge a place is if on hindsight my sensitive tummy reacts or not.

        Also some places sell food that they've cooked and put around for up to a week… my personal experience is this fancy food court where this stall charges $20 for a bowl of noodles in a fancy building in Sydney CBD and is super busy. When I confronted them about the meat not being fresh and at least a few days leftover, they could only put on an awkward look and tell me that it's what the owner instructed them to do to make more profits…

      • I agree whole heartily about "what goes on behind the scenes" is likely to scare many, but wearing gloves actually does nothing to stop the spread of a virus.

        The gloves are equal or better at carrying coronavirus and provides both parties with a false sense of security, result in less hand washing and often more contamination.

        • Obviously gloves are not magical and if not used properly will not help. But I disagree that gloves 'do nothing' - when used properly and changed regularly (as they should be by a trained food service worker, who is only handling food and not cash etc) they are certainly safer than bare skin.

          In this case I wasn't so concerned about the gloves as the fact that she actually put her finger on the inside of the food container. If she'd just held it by the outside I would have turned a blind eye to the lack of gloves.

          • @moph:

            Obviously gloves are not magical and if not used properly will not help. But I disagree that gloves 'do nothing' - when used properly and changed regularly (as they should be by a trained food service worker, who is only handling food and not cash etc) they are certainly safer than bare skin.

            I thought exactly that until I did some research today (after my wife questioned it saying "I don't think gloves will help"), I asserted exactly what you said but doing some "internet research" which isn't gospel, but it seemed pretty conclusive across many articles, some specifically about coronavirus. I won't link any articles, but a quick search yields a lot of results.

            In this case I wasn't so concerned about the gloves as the fact that she actually put her finger on the inside of the food container. If she'd just held it by the outside I would have turned a blind eye to the lack of gloves.

            Yeah, that's not a great move. Though I'd not trust the food in the container either, if your takeaway is not something you can heat well (pizza!) then I'd skip it personally (only due to coronavirus). I'd smash down any regular takeaway on a normal day though, for now though, it's not an essential item.

            • @iDroid: Interesting. I don't doubt your research, and I'll have to have a look myself, but it's hard to believe that someone working a $16/hr at the local takeaway place would take good enough care to wash their hands well and regularly vs. just putting on a new pair of gloves every now and then.

              Yeah I agree, I am being pretty cautious about takeaway food - pizza and indian have been the only things I've bought recently. In this case it was a premade curry that I heated well when I got home.

  • Perhaps catch COVID, survive (hopefully), then all good should be safe (unless you can catch it a second time).

    • +1

      potentially. if the virus mutates when jumping from person to person, you can catch it a second time.

      hypothetically that could explain how all these healthcare workers such as doctors and nurses who are young and healthy died on the frontlines without protective gear?

      • +2

        Multiple strains is a significant possibility, meaning those who have recovered may catch it again, and multiple vaccinations may be required to stop it.
        Two identified strains of COVID-19

      • healthcare workers such as doctors and nurses who are young and healthy died on the frontlines

        do you mind to provide source of this info?

        • My statement was hypothetical. But if you want some news here's some!

          China, including high profile death of a 34-year-old Doctor who tried to warn about the virus:
          https://www.businessinsider.com.au/why-coronavirus-killed-yo…

          The Philippines:
          https://ph.news.yahoo.com/coronavirus-kills-3-filipino-docto…

          Italy:
          https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8129499/More-2-600-…

          There will likely be more from India, Pakistan etc., where healthcare workers are threatening to go on strike if not provided with protective gear.

          • -2

            @donamique: The “not provided with the right protective gear” is the kicker here. There will be deaths amongst all age groups but, by a long way, the people most likely to die are the elderly and the vulnerable, particularly people with underlying medical conditions. This thing is moving fast but what I would strongly suspect is the health workers aren’t getting the disease from their takeaway food.

            • @try2bhelpful: Some of them were provided with the right Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)…

              • @donamique: So you are saying they aren’t using it properly? If so then that needs to be addressed very quickly.

                • +1

                  @try2bhelpful: It's not 100% protection. Like with you-know-what.

                  • +1

                    @donamique: Have fun with your little quest here. We do seem to have strayed off take away food to hospital supplies. None of us are experts on what is happening here. We are seeing a range of reactions from complete shutdown to let it rip and deal with massive loss of life to keep the word’s economy alive. Me, I take a measured approach. I buy from places I know, and trust. I keep my hygiene standards up. I keep my social distancing up. I keep my hands in my pockets to avoid touching things. If I go to the supermarket I get what I want, buy it then leave. I also us my hand sanitiser as I walk out. I try to avoid touching my face, especially if I’ve been in areas that a lot of people go through. Will I survive this? Even though I’m 58 the odds, are still, pretty good. I think what Trump is proposing is madness, America is just ramping up with the virus and they are, already, the 3rd most infected country. In 12 months time we will have a pretty good handle on the outcome. If you can prove that there are deliver people sneezing on food, produce it.

                    • @try2bhelpful: Have you ever… sneezed into your food sometimes by accident when preparing it?

                      BTW I think you're a great person. Doing all the sensible and right things. Thumbs up from me, arguments aside on this forum.

                      • @donamique: I tend to turn away when sneezing and I don’t serve food to people when I’ve sneezed on it :). Interestingly enough, I also put down sharp things before I sneeze and I do try to avoid sneezing on the cat.

                        The problem is people tend to panic in these situations and stuff can get out of control. Even given the Coronavirus this is, probably, a pretty safe time to get takeaway because the responsible places are being so vigilant as their livelihoods, quite literarily, depend on keeping their patrons well and happy. I do think this is, probably, a good time for commercial people preparing food to consider a mask - if they can get one.

                        I don’t do “extreme sports” or buy food from the dodgy stall holder “because it is so delicious and you really need to eat native when you are away”. I do eat the delicious local food from the places that look like they understand hygiene. You may not mean to but what you are doing is putting doubts in people’s minds without actual proof, and that could lead to a lot of places not getting patronage and going broke. The people then think “eating at home” is safe and eat an apple some supermarket kid has sneezed on before putting it out. I don’t know what the answer is here, and the advice keeps changing, but all we can do is listen to the experts and apply common sense. Keep your distance, keep your hygiene up, try not to get too worried, stay away from bogans. (The last one applies at any time). tomorrow the advice is, probably, going to be no one goes out - and that will be the right advice as well.

                        Be safe and be happy. One day we all die, it is how we live that counts.

                        • @try2bhelpful: I'm not trying to destroy small businesses…in fact this poll could help them, individually or collectively as an industry because now they understand what people are thinking.

                          Read this.

                          https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/526334#comment-8483541

                          I also started out just being curious and had no ill intentions whatsoever for the record.

                          • @donamique: The road to hell is paved with good intentions :) I would, seriously, get you to look up the Yes minister sketch.

                            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0ZZJXw4MTA

                            It shows the power of leading people to a conclusion you want them to reach.

                            I would’ve started with. A lot of cash strapped restauranteurs, many of which employ vulnerable young people, are trying to keep their restaurants afloat by doing take away. Some people are concerned there is increased risk to food safety due to mishandling but most places have indicated they are stepping up their food handling services to minimise the risk of contamination by COVID-19. Which has the added advantage of making it less likely they will be infected with other contaminants. The medical experts indicate that the chance of getting COViD-19 through food is relatively small compared to face to face transmission or touching infected surfaces. Based on this do you think the risks of getting take away outweigh the benefits?

                            There might still be a bunch of people who are too worried but It is not sensationalised with a risk that has yet to be proven. BTW, I don’t think my way of putting it is entirely balanced either.

                            • @try2bhelpful: Hot off the press for you: https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/cor…

                              Quote:

                              COVID-19 has two traits that made containment next to impossible. It takes up to two weeks between being infected and for symptoms to develop. And, during part of that time, unknowing sufferers can be unwitting spreaders.

                              Some estimates put that figure at one in three of all cases.

                              This threw a spanner in the works from the outset.

                              It's the fundamental difference with this virus that most like you seem to fail to understand.

                        • @try2bhelpful: How do you think this thing is spreading so fast when everyone already knows about it and most are paranoid about getting it, yet it's spreading like crazy?

                          You seem to know all the answers for how it spreads, yet the experts are still discovering different vectors.

                          It's prudent to think "I do not know how it spreads, and take caution where practical".

                          I certainly do not think that believing that it's hard to catch in these simple scenarios is a sane evaluation of what we can anecdotally observe.

                          Each to their own, but you're trolling your "calm down, it's ok, it's just a flu, stop scaring people" attitude pretty hard here.

                  • @donamique:

                    It's not 100% protection. Like with you-know-what.

                    Eating takeaway?

                    • @iDroid: Protective gear that front line medical workers wear to protect them against the virus.

                      • @donamique: Apologies, that was my poor attempt at humor.

                        • @iDroid: If that's what you like to call it…lol

                          • @donamique: I was being sarcastic :)

                            Right now I sanitize and quarantine mail that arrives at my house, so takeaway for me takes some careful thought.

                            I spend too much time with my elderly parents to infect them. I'm just not taking silly chances, there's nothing but internet points to be gained by being the "it'll be right" tough guy on this.

                            • +1

                              @iDroid: As in I meant I get your joke now (i.e. if you'd like to call it eating takeaway)…

                              Yea I'm worried for my parents too…

                              • -1

                                @donamique: This is exactly the concern you have: Fatal mistake that saw virus spread

                                All these tough guys telling people not to be so worried are going to keep this thing spreading until it is enforced (or we're all infected and 3.4% of us die)

                                • @iDroid: Negs with no stated reason..

                                  I get it that you don't want this to be true, but it likely is.

                                  This virus is spreading because of those who can't/wont take it seriously.

    • Some of the latest claims I've seen suggest that chest scans of some cases who showed no symptoms still showed significant lung damage.

      Not as bad as death today, but who knows if they'll recover or have new issues throughout life.

      • +1

        yup scarring of lung tissue which could reduce lung capacity by 10% to 30% even after recovery. But some say there's inconclusive evidence yet and anecdotally it might be the Chinese government's way of getting people to self isolate.

        Read somewhere that only when people have some fear, and realize that this thing could actually happen to them and their communities rather than only affecting people in some far off land, will they start to take steps to prevent this spread.

        Which makes the NZ prime minister's advice very useful - always assume you have the virus when interacting with others. It works both as a reality slap (that everyone could get it) and a call for empathy (don't spread it to others). Really smart woman.

  • -4

    Heating will not kill the virus.

    Too many what if's..

    IF yo are worried don't order in but cook.

  • +2

    Let me out of your nightmare….. stop being so paranoid…

    • +2

      Just heat up the food? lol.

      I'm quite at peace with dying but would like to prevent others from dying if possible.

      • +2

        All you are doing is trying to scare people. Me, I’m happy to listen to the health professionals and be careful. If you want to prevent people dying then volunteer to work in ensuring elderly people are properly isolated and provided with food supplies. A number of councils will provide you with work. Your lols are getting tiresome as they are completely inaccurate. I’m sure if we start seeing clusters of cases, with takeaways, then they will clamp down on them. In the meantime it is providing a way for restaurants to cling to life until the crisis has passed. I’m 58. I’m keeping up my social distancing, and hygiene, but I was out this morning getting my croissant, hot chocolate, bread and even some toilet paper. If I don’t get through this then I don’t but I’m not going to hide under my bed.

        • +2

          Apologies if you find my comments insensitive.

          Do you support freedom of speech?

          or

          Do you support keeping our mouths zipped just because you think that's the only way small businesses will survive?

          There's an option in the poll for "It's absolutely safe" you can select that if you feel that way.

          What do you think I've said is completely inaccurate? If you prove me wrong I'll gladly stand corrected, I miss my takeaways and even eating in restaurants as well.

          • +3

            @donamique: You are providing no substantive statistics to backup your theory that take away is going to lead to spreading of Coronavirus, over any other method. Free speech is the biggest furphy out there, it should be thought about before comments are uttered, you don’t just get to make any claim then complain your “free speech” is fettered when you are asked to provide facts. I don’t have all the answers, either, but if you want to get your knickers in a twist I would be more concerned about ready made salads at the supermarket than take away from recognised food places. If you are the one who thinks it is a risk then you have to prove it, not me. You sound just like a Trump. Throw something out there then complain when people ask him to back up his claims. What I said was “unlikely to occur” given the current emphasis on hygiene. I can’t guarantee your “absolutely safe” option, that is just absurd for at any time. There are a lot of things you can get from any food source if hygiene has lapsed. Maybe you need the option of “Increased emphasis on hygiene makes it unlikely to be an issue” than “absolutely safe“. nothing is “absolutely safe”. as soon as I see actual evidence this is an issue then I will urge people to show even more caution. I would do the same if there was a cluster of e-coli or hepatitis a.

            • +1

              @try2bhelpful: I'm sorry (where) did I make any (what) claims? This is a poll.

              • @donamique: You set the parameters for the poll including “absolutely safe”. You, seriously, need to see the Yes Minister episode where Sor Humphrey Appleby uses leading questions to get people to agree to two contradictory answers.

                • @try2bhelpful: I'd think if all restaurants made their employees wear masks, and threw away food that dropped onto the floor, and cleaned their kitchens regularly (maybe twice a week), it would be absolutely safe.

                  But that's not what I've seen of restaurant kitchens (at least not in Australia) during the past few years when there's no health crisis.

                  Maybe some have ramped up their hygiene standards, if so the owners can comment here.

                  But yes I do come from a current reference point of cooking at home a lot and skeptical of takeaway food (wanted to buy some yesterday but others advised against).

                  • @donamique: I’ve talked to the owners of the places I buy from and they have ramped up their hygiene standards. I was seeing this happening even before they closed down to only take away. Surfaces were being cleaned much more regularly and diligently.

                    If you are concerned about your takeaway then heat it to the appropriate temperatures. For things like curry this shouldn’t be too hard. It is a matter of buying the takeaway you are most comfortable with.

                    In the current climate to make unsubstantiated claims of cooks, drivers etc sneezing on food is reckless. Especially if you have no way of substantiating it.

                    I place that allows lax health practices is a place that won’t last long. The experts, which I know you distrust, indicate you are much more likely to get Coronavirus from people to people rather than food. The supermarket is, by far, a greater risk than a local restaurant desperate to survive. If you are concerned about the driver then pickup, that is what I do anyway. If you are concerned about sanitary standards then talk to the owners to see what they have implemented. If you are concerned then buy from someone you trust and heat the takeaway to the requisite temperature.

                    And think before you comment and set poll questions.

                    • @try2bhelpful: So how would you have set the poll options, if you were in my position, without having all these discussions already? That was the best I could do and I did.

                      If the answers now came back as everyone selecting "Yes it's absolutely safe" I could also be accused of setting the poll to be biased as "Just to be safe" is too conservative and childish and paranoid?

                • @try2bhelpful: Also there's a "stay away just to be safe" option?

                  • @donamique: So are you “staying away from supermarkets” just to be safe? Are you growing all your own food “just to be safe”? Do you have a full hazmat suit to go out in “just to be safe”? Your choice but stopped being sensationalist with no proof.

                    • @try2bhelpful: I don't get what you're trying to do…to stop me from polling to get an objective answer the best I can?

                      Are you chiding me for my incompetence or motivations, or my laughter (lols)?

                      • @donamique: Oh, I wish you were trying to get an objective answer. It is the way you’ve worded the issue, without proof, that is what I’m chiding you about. There are no “absolutes” here so your options are not realistic for a start. Perhaps being a tad less “sensationalist” might be a good start.

                        I’m also wondering why you are doing this at all. You could’ve, just simply, asked if people are still buying take away without bringing contamination into this, especially, as I keep saying, you have no proof this is a issue. Whereas, I have email after email from various groups I’ve subscribed to that they are stepping up their hygiene. Can we guarantee that your food hasn’t been sneezed on, well no we can’t. But I also, previously, couldn’t guarantee that a chef with hepatitis didn’t make my food after not washing his hands when going to the toilet.

                        • @try2bhelpful: Well I have my views, but they could be wrong. If it affected the "neutrality" of the poll in your view…I'll try to be even more neutral next time?

                          I've received emails from Coles, Woolies, Dan Murphy's, Hertz, all kinds of organizations. But not many from restaurants that I can remember?

                          Which restaurants are you receiving them from?

                          • @donamique: The major chain ones, mostly, Pancake Parlour, KoKo Black, IKEA along with Myers, Kitchen Warehouse. . The smaller places I’ve talked to directly. If you are concerned about a take away place they will explain their protocols. Including why sneezing on food is frowned on for both the chefs and drivers and how any breach would be dealt with severely.

                            I could provide the same list with how would you feel if the chef stood up and took a wizz into your soup, or gobbled into it. I’ve no proof that isn’t an ongoing issue either.

                            • @try2bhelpful: True but that's not going to kill you or kill the people you in turn infect. And the virus is on top of that.

                              I got the Koko Black one. What did the IKEA and Myer ones say? Don't seem to have got those.

                              • +1

                                @donamique: You have nothing to indicate the people doing take away are infecting anyone. You have crossed the line from conjecture to outright libel.. If you get food poisoning you can, in fact, die from it, Particularly for elderly vulnerable people, does that sound familiar? if you truly “studied” adulterated cases you would know that. I think it is time I backed out of this discussion. I will leave you to your, actual, scare mongering.

  • People have completely lost their minds. Turn ya bloody TV off.

    • +1

      Really?

      Who needs TV, these graphs show it all: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

      Anyone who understands exponential curves and looks at these suckers, knows it's not a time to be flippant about these things.

      • Mate they are a bench Of elderly people that have pre existing co-morbidities. Seasonal influenza kills just as many people every year. .. by WHO estimations 300k to 600k die every year. Granted this is a bad one, but the human race is gonna be just fine.

        Take a walk in the park, you'll Feel better.

        • Really?

          I do not see hospitals overrun and out of capacity because of the flu

          I do not see army trucks collecting bodies due to the flu

          I do not get your point

          How can someone be that naive and go in public and make such bold claims?

          Are you oblivious to what is happening?

          I'm not at all concerned for the human race, what a non sequitur, why bring that up?

          This is about the loss of people we know. A loss that can be prevented by people like you taking this seriously.

          You'll be the one who spreads it to your loved ones and their friends, and their family, because "it'll be right mate"

          Do you have any understanding of what the qualification of "existing underlying conditions" means? I think you have no idea.

          This is not the flu.

          This virus (if we don't take drastic action) will infect 50 - 70% of the worlds population. It'll have something like a 3.4% mortality rate.

          Are you going to say that the flu kills 130,000,000 people each year? (or 18 months or what ever it takes to run its course)

          Your ignorance is outstanding, seriously.

          Just because the elderly are the most at risk, don't for a second think that younger people are immune from this,

          Why do you think governments all over the world are locking down their society?

          Look at china (Wuhan and other out break areas), italy, the USA right now (New York, etc) can you really stand there and claim it's a bunch of dying old geezers (who are allowed life and protection just like us!!)

          If you can observe what's happening (take a look please) then you'll see you are VERY WRONG.

          Look at the real data here: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/coronavirus-age-se…

          See how at least 2 in every 1000 people who get this will likely die.. 0.2% of cases will die. That's a lot of people.

          If you're over 40, make that 4 in every 1000.

          If you're over 50, 13 in every 1000, that's no small amount (some people I know will die at those odds that's 1.3 in every 100 - not good)

          It just gets worse as you get older.. But it starts with the young (30+)

          You can not use 1 statistic to asses the effect, too many variables.

          Influenza is VERY different since you're not typically contagious while asymptomatic, no such luxury with this sucker.

          But heck, keep on thinking this is "just a mild flu" and you know better than all the thousands of experts out there who have confirmed otherwise.

          Live that fantasy while you can.

        • Also just note how it took 67 days to get to 100k infections, then just 19 more days to get to 500k infections - do you see that pattern?

          How good is your math? How many days to reach 100m?

          The how many more to reach 1b?

          This is not the flu. This is nothing like the flu.

          It's rate of infection is nothing like the flu.

          Go find an online polynomial regression tool and graph and see where this ends (google around, there's a few out there with current stats ready to go).. Try it, it's not a fun ride.

          • +1

            @iDroid: yea I got really upset about 2 months ago when a friend told me her partner who is a medical doctor said it's just like the flu so we have nothing to worry about. Then I reasoned with myself that maybe they don't travel much and/or keep in touch with news around the world. Then when it started getting really bad 2 weeks ago and reaching the shores of Australia, the friend admitted that actually they were terrified because they think they have poor health and their partner had underestimated the situation. And I had nothing I could say after that to make them feel better because they were in quite a lot of fear. So I understand now that it's some people's way of reassuring themselves and maybe we should let them have that comfort…a large part of the people wearing masks but touching them, wearing gloves but touching themselves, panic buying of toilet rolls, panic buying of guns in the US, people are feeling insecure and that's how they try to make themselves feel better. Perhaps akin to binge eating?

            Though I personally believe the Australian Government has ramped up its efforts, and a lot of deaths will be prevented in Australia because of this. I was critical of them before when they let the 2700 people off the cruise and so many of them testing positive for the virus afterwards. Also they hesitated with the lockdown. But think now at least they're starting to take this seriously.

            Also during these trying times I personally think it's important we keep our immunity strong by eating healthy, exercising some and keeping a good mood. Which might mean turning off the news or social media or the occasional forum misunderstanding, from time to time. We can also think of doing this as if it were for those around us.

            Cheers bud!

  • +1

    Such a silly poll.

    • Such a sensible thing to bring to peoples attention.

      Many may not be considering their takeaway as a vector for contamination.

      IMO anything that makes others aware of infection vectors is a good thing.

      Weather it takes the form of a poll, bulletin, question, statement, etc is irrelevant, it's a starting point for discussion.

      Think takeaway is ok? https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/cor…

      Nothing should be considered safe unless you're ok to get it and spread it.

  • I have thought about the same thing too recently.
    Places may be able to do takeaway but that doesn't mean the food, or the surrounding packaging is "safe". Products from the market sure I can leave alone for a few days and the virus will likely die anyway, but I wouldn't do that for takeaway food, hmm …

    At least with stuff like fresh produce a lot you can wash although I don't have a habit of washing them before storing them in say the fridge.

    hmm there's an interesting one; does the virus die or perhaps even get prolonged when refrigerated …
    I've only seen the info on heat, not cold (fridge or freezer).

    • Just playing devil's advocate here…

      1. When was that updated? Says March but 1st March and 25th March makes a big difference.

      2. The authorities let 2700 people off that cruise ship in Sydney and later found at least 140 of them have the virus. Do you really trust them 100% with your life?

      • +1

        That was federal government's… No… State government's…. No…. Border forces.. No…. Health secretary's… No….. Everyone's responsibility apparently… So we are all to blame lol

        • Is that common that the government refuses to apologize for catastrophic blunders? Would someone/people actually be held accountable? It's many lives at risk we are talking about here…

  • The updated national guideline is here
    https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Cont…
    It is considered a droplet infection and I personally think the chances of it being spread
    through food is really low

  • Well it is safe, but of course it's not 'absolutely safe'.

    If the delivery guy has the virus for example it could be all over the packaging etc

  • Nothing is safe unless it is prepared by yourself with your own hand

  • +1

    Just put in a special request for CF, corona free.

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