“COVID19 did not start in central China’s Wuhan but may come through imported frozen food and packaging” experts said on November 24thFacebook post by the ruling Communist Party’s official People’s Daily.
It is clear from this statement and a recent stepped-up media campaign by the Chinese government that they will do whatever is necessary to shift the focus from Wuhan. The latest campaign has begun that casts disparity on imported frozen food and packaging…without proof or substantiation.
Stepped up inspections underway on imported frozen foods
Nearly 100 suppliers from 20 countries where outbreaks were reported among factory workers have had their products suspended and as the inspections have increased so have the media reports.
Nationwide regulations are now in place “that require cold storage as well as their storage facilities be thoroughly disinfected before the products are unloaded and handled by movers. All goods must also be tested for the coronavirus upon arrival at the port of entry.”
These actions are not without international reaction. Here in the United States, AFFI (the American Frozen Food Institute) has taken steps to “minimize and mitigate” media coverage promoting unsubstantiated claims by the Chinese using the following actions:
“Rapid response to stories with click-bait headlines. Our team continues to reach out to editors and reporters who publish misleading stories, requesting they alter headlines and/or change the story to offer more clarity. Most recently, after our outreach, World Economic Forum changed the headline to its story previously titled “The Latest Covid-19 Super Spreader? Frozen Foods,” to a more balanced headline.
In addition, AFFI’s response to Supermarket Guru Phil Lempert was successful in having him delete a Facebook video in which he insinuated COVID could be transferred via food or food packaging. Other associations also responded to Phil and cited AFFI’s scientific literature review.
Proactive outreach to food industry reporters in the U.S. and Asia. We are proactively sharing our position with industry reporters in the U.S. and in Southeast Asia who either have covered the topic, or who could potentially cover it. Our aim is to at least ensure reporters note there is no evidence of COVID spread in frozen foods, and at best to persuade reporters to pass on any coverage at all due to lack of science.
Pitching a guest editorial from AFFI titled “No, Frozen Foods Do Not Spread Covid-19.” We have authored a 500-word op-ed outlining the science and shared with outlets such as the New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal seeking a definitive thought leadership article on this topic. Pitching is underway and I’ll keep you apprised of our efforts.”
Let us not forget that China suppressed information about the virus when it first surfaced and forbade access by international experts in the early stages of the virus. Last March, a spokesman from the foreign ministry even suggested that the U.S. army brought the virus to Wuhan. It’s no surprise that they have found another scapegoat…frozen foods.
While conspiracy theories continue to abound, we are quite certain that the latest attempt to shift the blame to imported frozen food and frozen food packaging will remain unfounded and commend AFFI for taking steps to stop the spread of false information and protect our frozen food industry.
