Food Protection Trends - September/October 2021 - 458

Julia: Maybe the foods packaging would also concern me. But
the courier is the primary.
Nearly all participants indicated that they sought information
from public health and government officials for
COVID-19-related information, primarily through news on
television, news outlet websites, and government websites.
They also believed that public health and government officials
were the most trustworthy sources for such information.
However, in some instances, medical professionals who were
known to the participants had provided inaccurate information
or advice that the participant then followed:
Andre: Prime Minister, Premier largely because they are being
advised by top medical health professionals.
Noah: I wash [produce] with soap. [Heard this recommendation]
through a friend who is [a] Doctor.
Penelope: I like watching the news as it's interactive; but I also
like reading information as I can reread things over.
There was some discussion over frustration with conflicting
or unclear information and how this made participants unsure
of what to believe or fostered a sense of distrust:
Ahmed: I don't think anyone is an expert at this situation. We
may rely on health experts, but clearly they don't know what's
going on either.
To some extent, there was an expression of wanting to
support others and help keep them safe. This was articulated
though desires to support local businesses, forgoing reusable
bag use despite their preferences, limiting stockpiling behaviors,
and reducing contact with food in grocery stores out of
respect for staff and shoppers:
Zoe: I did buy way too much when it was first hitting the news
that it was in Ontario.... But after that one grocery run, I
bought everything in regular amounts (not overdoing it to give
others a chance to get what they need).
Emotion and awareness in connection to the pandemic
Several participants indicated a lack of interest or concern
over food safety before the pandemic but noted that the
onset of COVID-19 had alerted them to such concerns:
April: For me, personally, I've never really thought twice about
hygiene and my foods. COVID-19 has really changed that for
me, I've always kind of been a " what doesn't kill me makes me
stronger " type in regard to germs and now I [empty] boxes as
soon as I get home.
There were a few instances in which shame or embarrassment
were expressed in connection to some pandemic-related behaviors:
Hannah: I also (embarrassingly) stockpiled at the beginning
of the pandemic.
Similarly, there was a sense of unease among some participants
when they did not partake in certain behaviors, like
cleaning food packaging:
Lyla: I think there's also a sense of panic and guilt if you're
unable to Lysol everything?
Violet: Had concerns about food safety but read somewhere
that restaurants practice good hygiene as a rule, so trying to
458 Food Protection Trends September/October
believe that. But handling all the containers is a little anxietyinducing,
to be honest.
Some participants noted that they were not seeking
information related to food safety during the pandemic. In
addition, some participants noted that they were not seeking
pandemic-related information because of concerns over
mental health:
Sophie: Haven't been watching or reading news for that.
Oliver: No reading of that, try to be happy all the time.
Some participants expressed a desire to continue some
hygiene and sanitation practices they have developed since
the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, whereas others
have indicated that they intend to return to their normal
routines, because the heightened vigilance and caution
causes stress:
Telisha: It definitely has made this concern stronger as in the
future, even when restaurants do open up, I think I will be
hesitant to dine out before preparing something at home.
Evelyn: I will likely keep up some of the COVID-19 lessons.
Living with Sjogren's [syndrome] makes the common cold
a pain. I feel more educated to keep myself healthy from this
experience.
Penelope: Once COVID [sic] is over and there is a vaccine I
will return to my old ways. This is way to[o] intense to keep up.
Isabelle: I am not a germaphobe either, I think if I overdo
things it will end up being more stressful.
Routine food safety practices not influenced by the
COVID-19 pandemic
There appears to be relatively little concern over food
safety under regular circumstances. Many participants
listed vague or nonspecific food concerns such as crosscontamination
or food poisoning, and others reported no
food safety concerns:
Lyla: I don't think I had many food safety and security
concerns prior to the pandemic.
Sarah: I am not sure that I have one.
Nia: I would have to say cross-contamination.
Almost all participants mentioned using best-before
dates as a means for ensuring their foods were still safe to
eat. Participants also heavily relied on their own senses and
intuition about the safety of their foods, citing smell, look,
texture, and sometimes even taste for ways of determining
whether food was safe to eat:
Julia: I determine its safe to eat by checking the expiration
date if it has one. if its fresh produce I look for signs of ripeness
versus rotting.
Madison: I smell the product and check the expiry date.
Ella: We're vegetarian so not often concerned about foods
making us sick, unless they have gone mouldy.
Keisha: Sniff test.
There was a notable range in the length of time that fresh
and/or preprepared meat and poultry, and leftovers, were
kept in the fridge:
Food Protection Trends - September/October 2021

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