Frozen Chicken Wings From Brazil Test Positive For COVID-19 In China
However, experts say that the possibility of catching the virus through food is low.
By May Vin Ang — 14 Aug 2020, 06:03 PM
In Shenzhen, China, a routine check has found that one of its samples of frozen chicken wings imported from Brazil is positive for COVID-19
Bloomberg reported that the local government urged its consumers to exercise caution when buying any imported frozen food, especially after a few other positive cases were previously reported in other Chinese cities.
The positive sample in Shenzhen was taken from the surface of the meat, while another recent positive sample was found in Xi An on the surface of the packaging of imported frozen seafood from Ecuador.
The authorities said they immediately screened people who came in contact with the contaminated products, including their relatives, and all tests have come back negative.
Brazilian authorities have traced the chicken from an Aurora Alimentos meat processing plant in the southern state of Santa Catarina
According to CNN, they are now inspecting products sold from the same brand and have disinfected the area where the contaminated chicken wings were stored.
The Brazilian Association of Animal Protein (ABPA) said in a statement that it is also investigating the incident and emphasised that "there is no scientific evidence that meat transmits the virus".
"It is not yet clear when the packaging was contaminated, and whether it occurred during the export transportation process," ABPA added.
As of writing, Brazil has recorded 3.2 million COVID-19 cases, the second-highest country in the world after the United States, according to a global tally by Worldometer.
Commenting on the matter, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said that the possibility of catching the virus through food is low
The health authority assured that there is no need for panic as there were also no previous cases of COVID-19 being transmitted solely through food.
"People are already scared enough and fearful enough in the COVID-19 pandemic," said WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan at a press conference, as quoted by US News.
"People should not fear food or food packaging or the processing or delivery of food," he said.
"There is no evidence that food or the food chain is participating in the transmission of this virus."
"Our food, from a COVID-19 perspective, is safe," he added.
