Guest blog post by Dr. Mindy Brashears, Under Secretary for Food Safety, U.S. Department of Agriculture

There’s no doubt that we all have plenty to worry about during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the Nation’s top-ranking food safety official, let me assure you that there is one thing that you do not need to worry about during this time — the safety of your food.

The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has robust processes to ensure the safety of meat, poultry, and processed egg products. FSIS inspection personnel are present every day in nearly 6,500 establishments across the country to verify that food is safe. The food and agriculture sector are considered part of our Nation’s critical infrastructure, and even during COVID-19, FSIS inspectors, veterinarians, and scientists are still hard at work.

The food safety systems in this country are grounded in science. When a new threat emerges, it’s important that we apply that same scientific approach. Through this process, we’ve learned that public health and food safety experts do not have any evidence to suggest that COVID-19 can be transmitted by food or food packaging. At the same time, FSIS inspectors are in establishments verifying that establishments are producing food in sanitary conditions and adhering to written sanitation procedures. With science-based food safety systems at work and dedicated FSIS employees on the job, Americans can trust that their food is safe. Be well and stay safe!