U.S. Government Responds to Unsubstantiated Claim that COVID-19 May Be Transmitted Through Food or Food Packaging

GCCA applauds the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) response to China’s unsubstantiated claim that COVID-19 may have been contracted through the cold chain. On February 8, 2021, GCCA joined 19 other representatives of the food and beverage critical infrastructure in requesting a meeting with leadership of USDA, FDA, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and U.S. Trade Representative to discuss our concerns that the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) may shift their scientific conclusions that consumers cannot contract COVID-19 by eating foods or handling food packaging, thereby allowing a narrative that is not supported by credible science. As a result of GCCA’s leadership, USDA, FDA, and CDC provided a COVID-19 update where they reiterated that their confidence in the safety of the U.S. food supply remains steadfast. In addition, they relayed that consumers should be reassured that they continue to believe, based on their understanding of currently available reliable scientific information, and supported by overwhelming international scientific consensus, that the foods they eat and food packaging they touch are highly unlikely to spread COVID-19. While GCCA applauds the U.S. Government’s response we will continue to monitor information coming out of WHO and WTO to ensure it is supported by credible science.

Read the USDA, FDA, and CDC’s response HERE.