Presence of SARS-CoV-2 on the Surface of Fruits and Vegetables.

ABSTRACT

There is no information about whether the SARS-CoV-2 virus is present on the surface of fruits and vegetables obtained from grocery stores. The goal of this study is to determine if SARS-CoV-2 was present on the surfaces of produce in grocery stores in the Philadelphia metropolitan area during the peak pandemic period. Produce from 10 stores was swabbed and then analyzed for the presence of the virus. Of the 140 fruits and vegetables tested, only one fruit sample contained SARS-CoV-2 on its surface. The results indicate that the spread of the virus through contact with produce is highly unlikely.