COVID-19 Infection Routes in China Traced to Overseas 'Frozen Foods', Calls for "Import Suspension"

WHO, "Very Low Risk of Infection Through Food Packaging"

Photo of frozen food in a Chinese supermarket. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Nahana] Amid sporadic COVID-19 infection cases recently emerging in China, the country has decided to suspend imports of products from foreign frozen food companies where the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been detected.

According to foreign media, on the 15th (local time), Chinese customs announced this measure after communicating with 109 countries exporting frozen food to China.

On the 13th and 14th, COVID-19 virus was detected on the packaging of imported frozen food from five regions: Wuhan in Hubei Province, Jinan and Liangshan in Shandong Province, Quanzhou in Fujian Province, and Lanzhou in Gansu Province. Since June, more than 10 provinces and municipalities have found the COVID-19 virus on imported frozen food or packaging.

The Chinese State Council instructed on the 9th that all imported frozen food packaging must be thoroughly disinfected. Disinfection of transport vehicles and warehouses was also mandated.

Wu Zunyou (吳尊友), chief epidemiologist at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, pointed out that the delivery process in winter is similar to frozen food transportation and suggested that COVID-19 testing is necessary for all imported products.

Authorities suspect that the route of COVID-19 infection may originate not only from people arriving from overseas but also from imported frozen food.

Wu Zunyou claimed that there is accumulating evidence suggesting the virus may have been introduced into China through frozen seafood or meat.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated that the likelihood of COVID-19 infection through food or food packaging is very low.

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