Here’s What You Need to Know
Amanda J. Deering, an assistant professor and expert on fresh produce food safety with the Department of Food Science at Purdue University, told TODAY that the produce section at most grocery stores is a high-touch area, so the virus could potentially be transmitted if one were to pick up a piece of fruit (which had been previously touched by someone who had coronavirus) and then consume that piece of fruit without washing it.
However, while Schaffner said produce is just as safe now as it was before the pandemic, he explained that proper washing is even more important today. If the item has a tough skin, like a cantaloupe, it can be scrubbed with a brush, too. He does not see any harm in eating raw fruits or vegetables, as long as they have been washed well.