[Report] "Please Try It Once" Do Sampling Corners in Marts and Markets Increase COVID-19 Infection Risk?

Some Citizens Grab Food with Hands at Tasting Corner
High Risk of Infection from Droplets During Tasting
Experts: "More Caution Needed in Crowded Places Like Marts and Markets"

Due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), health authorities have advised large supermarkets and similar establishments to refrain from offering tasting corners, but it appears that this guidance is not being well followed. The photo shows a child customer picking and eating fruit with bare hands at a tasting corner in a traditional market in Seoul. Photo by Seulgi Kim, Intern Reporter sabiduriakim@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon, Intern Reporter Kim Seul-gi] #Housewife A recently visited a traditional market to use the emergency disaster relief fund and used the tasting corner at a fruit shop. Although many people tasted the samples using toothpicks, A was shocked to see some customers picking up the tasting food with their bare hands. A said, "Normally, I would have passed by without much thought, but given the current situation where we must practice 'distancing in daily life,' I thought the tasting corner was an inappropriate event."

Due to the impact of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the government has been emphasizing the importance of 'distancing in daily life' every day. However, concerns are growing that tasting corners in large supermarkets and traditional markets could become links for COVID-19 infections. This is because some customers pick up food with bare hands while using the tasting corners, and the nature of tasting involves the possibility of droplets (saliva) being spread.

Although the government recommends refraining from tasting corners in large supermarkets, there are no guidelines for traditional markets, which citizens mainly visit to use the emergency disaster relief fund, raising concerns that there might be gaps in quarantine guidelines.

Experts explained that since the distance between users does not differ in traditional markets compared to large supermarkets, it is appropriate to recommend restraint according to the government's 'social distancing' principles.

A tasting booth is set up at the grocery section of a large supermarket in downtown Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

On the 24th of last month, a part-time worker at the tasting corner of Homeplus Seongseo branch in Dalseo-gu, Daegu, was confirmed positive for COVID-19. Although the part-time worker reportedly wore a mask throughout the working period, the fact that it was a tasting corner in a large supermarket used by many people raised concerns about a potential cluster infection.

B, a worker in their 20s, said, "I don't understand why supermarkets or markets operate tasting corners. I'm anxious that a cluster infection might occur if something goes wrong."

After a COVID-19 case appeared at a tasting corner, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) announced recommendations for large facilities on the 27th of last month in the 'Detailed Guidelines for Distancing in Daily Life (2nd edition).' According to the guidelines, managers of large supermarkets and corporate supermarkets should suspend or minimize the operation of tasting and cosmetic testing corners. However, since the guidelines are recommendations without enforceability, operation is at the discretion of each business.

In particular, health authorities urged that waste such as toothpicks, cups, and tissues, which may be contaminated with droplets from tasting corners, should be disposed of separately and cleanly to prevent others from touching them.

Traditional market. Photo by Yonhap News

However, it has recently been found that there are no specific guidelines regarding tasting corners in traditional markets and small supermarkets, which many people visit to use the COVID-19 emergency disaster relief fund. The CDSCH only recommended that traditional market workers maintain a distance of 2 meters (at least 1 meter) between users and wear masks when directly interacting with customers.

C, a merchant at a traditional market, lamented, "The number of visitors to the market is already decreasing, so we hold tasting events like this hoping customers will buy something."

The problem is that, due to the nature of traditional market spaces, the social distancing standard of '2 meters distance' is not properly maintained, and eating food there could become a link for COVID-19 infection.

Experts urged special caution in places like markets where many people gather due to the risk of infection.

Professor Kim Woo-joo, an infectious disease specialist at Korea University Guro Hospital, explained, "COVID-19 is not transmitted through food, but the core of 'social distancing' is maintaining distance between individuals. Also, during eating, masks are removed, and it is highly likely that distancing is not properly observed, so it is not an appropriate practice at this time."

Professor Kim added, "Markets and supermarkets are crowded places, so the possibility of increased personal contact is high. The process of tasting food at tasting corners can be considered close contact. Since the distance between contacts does not differ in traditional markets compared to large supermarkets, it is appropriate to recommend restraint according to the government's social distancing principles."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.