China ranks fifth among the suppliers of fruits and vegetables to the domestic market. Therefore, most citizens are interested in the question of whether it is possible to become infected with a coronavirus through fruits from China. Not only the degree of threat to human health depends on this situation, but also the shortage of products, the rise in prices for them. What does the World Health Association say about this, should we be afraid to eat fruits brought from the land of the Rising Sun? This will be discussed later in the article.
Why is it considered not to eat fruits from China?
Previously, researchers assured that it was possible to become infected with the Covid-2019 coronavirus infection only by airborne droplets. But now it is obvious that the disease is transmitted by contact and alimentary, that is, through food. China actively exported apples, peaches, pears, nectarines. Last summer, imports to our country were stopped due to the detection of pests. The ban is still in effect today, so there is no reason to fear for the harmfulness of fruits.
There are active discussions in instant messengers and the Internet regarding the infection with coronavirus through fruits or vegetables. Doctors warn that the danger is the panic launched in the country, which can cause an epidemic of any disease. Research by scientists confirms that a person's health is affected by a psychological state.
In nature, there are a huge number of bacteria and microorganisms that function without affecting any outbreaks of the epidemic. The base flora can be pathogenic or non-pathogenic. The Covid-2019 virus is considered non-pathogenic, since the body's defenses are great. With chronic fear, stress, the level of protection decreases sharply.
Doctors say that the virus can only be transmitted through objects that the patient has touched for 48 hours. Parcels from China in such a short time do not reach the addressee. In fruits, seafood and other biological substances containing juices, the virus may persist for a longer time. On mass epidemics, pharmaceutical companies, insurers earn a lot of money. Perhaps the danger of the information space is simply beneficial to someone.
But as a matter of fact: is it possible to eat fruits and vegetables from China?
Coronavirus is an obligate or absolute parasite. Viruses do not exist and do not reproduce outside of cells. When hit on objects, food, they are alive for a short time. Covid-2019 is thermolabile, that is, it can only withstand temperatures up to 40. If we talk about Chinese food, they need time to arrive at the consumer.
Epidemiologists exclude the possibility of infection with the Covid-2019 virus through perishable food coming from the quarantine zone. The governments of other countries, in order to level the risks of infection, organized a special regime at customs. But the measures taken may not be enough. Fruit and vegetable crops can be dangerous due to people's non-compliance with sanitary standards.
Help protect yourself from coronavirus:
- washing hands regularly before eating;
- exclusion from the diet of freshly squeezed fruit juices;
- not sharing utensils with others.
If you follow simple tips, you should not worry about the possibility of contracting a virus. Experts assure that eating fruit from China is safe.
Is there food from China on the shelves now?
China is in the TOP-5 largest food suppliers in the Russian Federation. It occupies a leading position in fruit and vegetable crops. Retailers independently began to refuse the supply of food from China.
Exotic fruits come from the infected area: rambutan, pomelo, pitaya, lychee. The domestic market mainly buys vegetables, fruits, seafood. Large retail chains suspended the supply of fruits and vegetables from China, began to buy products from other countries, replacing imports from China. Now the share of Chinese fruits in large retail chains is small. The share of imported products from China accounts for only 1% of the total number of goods.
After systematically identified dangerous quarantine organisms in exported tangerines, the authorities decided to ban the import of citrus fruits from China. There are also restrictions on the supply of stone fruit and pome crops. On the shelves of stores there are still citrus fruits that crossed the border with the Russian Federation until January 6, 2020.
In 2019, about 300,000 tons of fruit were imported from China to the domestic market for a total of $267 million. 2/3 of this amount was accounted for by citrus crops. Replaced fruits are now supplied from other countries: Ecuador, Morocco, Turkey. Purchases from domestic agricultural producers increased. Such changes had an insignificant impact on the cost of the final product, according to experts.
From the lack of Chinese products, in the first place, the Far East suffered. The restriction on the supply led to a rise in prices, emptying the shelves. This is due to the more expensive logistics scheme in this direction.
The Russian government has increased the level of protection for citizens regarding security. It is not necessary to completely exclude products imported from China from the diet. Coronavirus, subject to the rules of personal hygiene, is not transmitted through fruits from China.