Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiological agent of the current pandemic referred to as coronavirus disease 2019, is spread by direct and indirect transmission between humans, including contact with contaminated surfaces, frozen food, packaging materials, and storage environments. Food contamination may occur in the “farm-to- table” lifecycle through contact with food handlers and environments. In the present study, the survival of a SARS-CoV-2 surrogate (feline coronavirus (FCoV)) at room temperature and refrigeration conditions for different time intervals on two types packaging widely used packaging, namely flow-pack polyethylene and polystyrene food trays, was investigated. FCoV was stable on the flow-pack polyethylene for 48 h and 120 h at room temperature and 4 °C, respectively, while it persisted on polystyrene food trays for 36 h at room temperature and for 120 h at +4 °C. The results of our study highlight the possible implications of food packaging in the spread of SARS-CoV-2 during the current pandemic.

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Even though SARS-CoV-2’s primary transmission pathway is person-to-person, the role played by surfaces and food contact materials in carrying viral RNA should be further explored. For this purpose, the study aimed to investigate the persistence of SARS-CoV-2 using the strain ATCC® VR-1986HK™ on flow pack polyethylene (FPP) and polystyrene food trays (PFT). Samples of FPP and PFT were contaminated with heat-inactivated SARS-CoV-2 and were incubated at a temperature of 24 ± 1°C and at controlled relative humidity (RH 65%). The experimental design included analyses at the time 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and after every 24 hours until the viral RNA was no longer detectable. The results showed a significant decrease ( P <0.001) in viral copies number on PFT within 3 hours (24% reduction) and, at 72 hours, the viral RNA had fallen below the limit of detection. Regarding the FPP, it was necessary to wait 24 hours for a significant decrease ( P =0.015) in the viral load (14% reduction), while the detection threshold was reached at 96 hours. These findings showed that the viral RNA persists longer on polyethylene flow pack samples than on polystyrene food trays, thus highlighting the importance of material characteristics in the persistence of SARS-CoV-2.

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