COVID-19 Response and Resources

Can I get COVID-19 from food or food packaging?
Food has not been identified as a likely source of COVID-19. However, it is always important to follow good practices to ensure proper food handling and safety, including washing your hands before food preparation and eating. Learn more.

Is it safe to eat fresh produce?
COVID-19 is not known to be caused from eating food, so safety of fresh produce should not be a concern relative to this virus. Washing produce with clean water before consumption is always a good practice. It is not recommended to wash produce with dish soap or any detergent, or to treat produce with chemical disinfectants at home. Learn more.

Should I be concerned about going to the grocery store?
There is no evidence that COVID-19 can be transmitted by food or food packaging. Shoppers should follow good practices for health, including washing or sanitizing hands upon entering a store and as soon as possible after leaving. Maintain at least 6 feet of distance between yourself and others while shopping, avoid touching surfaces unnecessarily, and avoid touching your face. Do not go to a store if you feel ill or if you have been exposed to someone who is sick with COVID-19. Learn more.

CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. 

Is it safe to visit a farmers market, on-farm retail store, or a pick-your-own farm during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Despite the crisis, Tennessee’s farmers continue to produce safe, fresh, local foods. Farmers markets and farms that sell directly to the public are ideal sources for fresh vegetables, meats, and food products.

Use the Pick Tennessee Products website or mobile app to find a farmers market or farm near you. Make sure to contact the business before visiting, as there may be new procedures in place. Many have enhanced safety measures to protect the health of their customers and staff, including advance ordering and pick up options.

You should not visit a market or farm if you feel ill or if you have been exposed to someone who is sick with COVID-19.

Should I have my pet tested for COVID-19?
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture does not have plans to conduct widespread testing of animals for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). Currently, pets or livestock are not thought to be involved in COVID-19 transmission to other animals or to people.

At this time, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) do not recommend routine testing of companion animals for COVID-19. Should testing of a companion animal be requested, the Tennessee State Veterinarian and the State Epidemiologist will work together to make a joint decision. Learn more.