Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resources

For Assistance or Questions

If you have specific questions around the response of food processing or food safety to COVID-19, please reach out to our experts:

Donald Schaffner, PhD
Extension Specialist in Food Science
Rutgers University – Food Science Department

Donna Schaffner
Associate Director: Food Safety, Quality Assurance & Training
Rutgers University – Food Innovation Center

Recent Articles

2/11/21 Maximizing Fit for Cloth and Medical Procedure Masks to Improve
Performance and Reduce SARS-CoV-2 Transmission and Exposure

2/11/21 Improve the Fit and Filtration of Your Mask to Reduce the Spread of COVID-19

1/11/21 2020-2021 Flu Season: A Complete Guide to the Flu Vaccine

1/11/21 Seasonal Health Resource Guide for Older Adults 2020-2021

1/5/21 CDC warning to quarantine for full 14 days after exposure to COVID-19

1/5/2021 CDC COVID-19 vaccination recommendations

12/10/2020 Warnings re: allergies to vaccine

12/10/2020 Winter Holiday Travel

10/30/2020 CDC recommendations for going out in public.

9/21/2020 Food processor fined by OSHA for failure to protect workers from COVID-19

9/10/2020 “Eating inside Restaurant” correlates highly with positive COVID-19 tests – 9-11-2020

9/9/2020 Rutgers Finds Faster Way to Decontaminate N95 Masks

9/9/2020 COVID-19 Guidelines for Business – Mistakes to Avoid

8/24/2020 First Case of COVID-19 Reinfection Confirmed

8/19/2020 Five Mistakes NOT to Make When Holding Online Meetings

8/10/2020 German Study Brings STEC-Contaminated Flour to the Forefront

8-7-2020 Small Business Food Defense Inspections Delayed, but Compliance Now in Effect

8-6-2020 Which Cloth Masks Work Best to Help Stop COVID-19 Spread?

8/1/2020 FDA’s New Era Blueprint: “Exploring,” “Encouraging,” and “Enhancing”

7-21-2020 NJ & NY Look Out! Downward trends for COVID-19 = Increased likelihood of FDA Inspections

7-15-20 Face Masks work!

7-14-2020 Update: CDC adds 3 New symptoms to indicate possible COVID-19 infection

7-13-2020 Ways to fight Social Distancing Fatigue

7-13-2020 Updated list of FDA-recalled hand sanitizers

7-10-20 CDC Update: COVID-19 Among Workers in Meat and Poultry Processing Facilities — United States, April–May 2020

7-9-20 Food Export Restrictions because of COVID-19

7/8/2020 Contact tracing 101: How it works, who could get hired, and why it’s so critical in fighting coronavirus now

7/7/2020 Implementing a COVID-19 Culture in the “New Normal”

7/6/2020 7-6-20 Beware Methanol contaminated hand sanitizers!

6/24/2020 Protect Yourself When Using Transportation: Public transit, rideshares and taxis, micro-mobility devices, and personal vehicles

6/23/2020 COVID-19 and Animals

6/22/2020 Food and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

6/21/2020 Non-contact Temperature Assessment Devices During the COVID-19 Pandemic

6/19/2020 Cleaning and Disinfection for Non-emergency Transport Vehicles

6/17/2020 CDC Overview of Testing for SARS-CoV-2

6/16/2020 Testing Strategy for Coronavirus (COVID-19) in High-Density Critical Infrastructure Workplaces after a COVID-19 Case Is Identified

6/15/2020 Public Attitudes, Behaviors, and Beliefs Related to COVID-19, Stay-at-Home Orders, Nonessential Business Closures, and Public Health Guidance — United States, New York City, and Los Angeles, May 5–12, 2020

6/12/2020 After all tested negative for the virus prior to start of the voyage, 75% of crew later tests positive for coronavirus on seafood processing ship.

6/11/2020 Rutgers Experts Discuss What a “Good Death” Means During COVID-19 Pandemic

6/10/2020 WHO – Advice on the use of masks in the context of COVID-19

6/10/2020 Depression, anxiety up 3-fold since start of COVID-19 pandemic

6/9/2020 Hain Celestial CEO expects home-cooking trend to continue through 2021

6/9/2020 Small producers benefit as meat giants face scrutiny | COVID-19 accelerates plant-based demand

6/9/2020 Senators, Administrators Make Plans for College Students Return despite COVID-19

6/8/2020 First Reported Cases of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Companion Animals — New York, March–April 2020

/6/5/2020 Public Health Advisory: Maintaining and Reopening Building Water Systems Impacted by Prolonged Shutdown or Reduced Operation – Minimizing Legionella and Opportunistic Bacteria Growth

6/3/2020 Employee fear of coronavirus tops food industry leaders’ challenges, survey says

5/20/2020 Enforcement Guidance for Recording Cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019

5/19/2020 Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2

5/18/2020 Meat and Poultry Processing Workers and Employers: Interim Guidance from CDC and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

5-14-2020 Interim Guidance from CDC and Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA): Manufacturing Workers & Employers

5/15/2020 DOJ Continues Food Safety Indictments

5/13/2020 Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19

5/11/2020 Food of Animal Origin do not carry COVID-19 when properly handled and cooked.

5/1/2020 CDC Guidance for Reopening Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools, and Homes

5/1/2020 Returning to the Workplace: Post-Pandemic Considerations

4/30/2020 U.S. fresh produce, milk disruptions & N.J. farm outlook

4/29/2020 Are Antibacterial Soaps More Effective Than Regular Soap?

4/28/2020 Practical steps for food businesses to check your readiness in this COVID

4/27/2020 Moving Product Online: Marketing to Homebound Consumers

4/24/2020 How the Coronavirus is Affecting Food Processing

4/24/2020 What Food and Grocery Pick-up and Delivery Drivers Need to Know about COVID-19

4/24/2020 Steam Clean Checks Out for N95 Sterilization

4/23/2020 FDA Issues Temporary Policy for Certain Requirements under the Accredited Third-Party Certification Program During COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

4/23/2020 For respirators required as PPE for the job: NOT applicable to voluntary wearing of cloth masks to slow the spread of COVID-19

4/22/2020 COVID-19 and Wholesale Grower Questions

4/21/2020 What Mail and Parcel Delivery Drivers Need to Know about COVID-19

4/20/2020 CDC: What Airport Retail or Food Service Workers Need to Know about COVID-19

4/17/2020 USDA Allows Larger Container Sizes in School Meals for Milk, Other Foods & Beverages

4/17/2020 OSHA Guidance to Area Offices and compliance safety and health officers (CSHOs) for handling COVID-19-related complaints, referrals, and severe illness reports

4/17/2020 CDC New Guidelines on Exposed Workers in Critical Infrastructure

4/16/2020 CDC-Water and COVID-19

4-16-2020 Facts from CDC — Disinfecting Your Building or Facility

4/15/2020 Large Meat Processor Closes Down Due to COVID-19

4/14/2020 NJBiz: Rutgers Food Innovation Center offers virtual food safety training

4/14/2020 CDC – COVID-19 in animals (non-human)

4/13/2020 Fighting COVID-19: Flattening the curve in your food facility

4/2/2020 Is It Safe to Order Food Delivery or Takeout?

3/31/2020 What’s Closed, Open?

3/30/2020 Managing Coronavirus in the Food Industry

3/30/2020 EPA List – Products with Emerging Viral Pathogens AND Human Coronavirus claims for use against SARS-CoV-2

3/30/2020 FDA Safely Distributing Unused Human Food for Animal Use

3/30/2020 CARES Act May Offer Some Relief to Specialty Food Industry

3/27/2020 FDA Postpones Foreign and Routine Inspections

3/27/2020 EAS Consulting Group COVID-19 Recommendations and Policy Changes

3/24/2020 Most Manufacturers Expect Disruption

3/23/2020 Take A Deep Breath: Making Risk-Based Decisions In The Coronavirus Era

3/23/2020 John Hopkins Medicine & Texas Tech: COVID-19 Survival on Surfaces

3/23/2020 Lost Sense of Smell May Be Peculiar Clue to Coronavirus Infection

3/21/2020 Food Industry Q & A (from FIC Food Safety SME) regarding COVID-19

3/20/2020 FDA Publishes Temporary COVID-19 Policy for FSMA Supplier Verification Onsite Audit Requirements (pdf)

3/18/2020 Do You Have a COVID-19 Response Plan in Place?

3/17/2020 Coronavirus in the workplace: What employers need to know

3/17/2020 Food Defense is All About Protecting Yourself

Rutgers Resources

New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Disasters & Emergencies

Rutgers On-Farm Food Safety

Rutgers Universitywide COVID-19 Information

Other University Resources

Cornell University Food Industry Resources

North Carolina State Extension for Retail Food Environment and Farms

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General Information & Resources

10/8/2020 The Proposed Traceability Rule: Recordkeeping and Exemptions

9/21/2020 FDA Announces FSMA Food Traceability Proposed Rule, A Major Milestone in the New Era of Smarter Food Safety

9/10/2020 UPDATED CDC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RESTAURANTS & BARS

6/2/2020 Food and Agriculture: Considerations for Prioritization of PPE, Cloth Face Coverings, Disinfectants, and Sanitation Supplies During the COVID-19 Pandemic

5/28/2020 Enforcement Policy for Face Masks and Respirators During the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency (Revised)

CDC COVID-19 website (many resources: basic information about COVID-19, including how it spreads; situation updates; information for specific audiences: communities, schools, businesses, healthcare professions, health departments, travel, laboratories)

CDC (4/22) – Implementing Safety Practices for Critical Infrastructure Workers Who May Have Had Exposure to a Person with Suspected or Confirmed COVID-19

FDA COVID-19 website (continuously updated)

FSIS COVID-19 website

DHS COVID-19 website

CDC Cloth Face Coverings Q&A

CDC Use of Protective Face Coverings to Reduce Spread of COVID-19

LSU NCBRT/ACE has created a 6-minute video, “CDC Sequence for Donning and Doffing PPE,” that walks viewers step-by-step through the guidelines prescribed by the CDC for donning and doffing a gown, mask/respirator, face shield, and gloves.
Viewers may watch the video directly on YouTube or complete the Request Form below to receive a downloadable copy of the video to share in your organization.

YouTube video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xy00pLT9M4&feature=youtu.be

Downloadable video Request Form link: https://ncbrt.formstack.com/forms/covid19_cdc_ppe_video

You may also find all COVID-19 related training material at: https://www.ncbrt.lsu.edu/

State Department Travel Advisories

NJ COVID-19 Scenarios and Benefits Available for Workers

Getting Your Workplace Ready for COVID-19  (World Health Organization)

Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers (CDC)

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Resources  and News for NJ Food Industry Employees and Businesses

6/1/2020 Buy NJ – Support Local Businesses

5/31/2020 CDC Resuming Business Toolkit

5/26/2020 NJEDA Announces $50 Million Expansion of Grant Program for Businesses Impacted by COVID-19

NJ Covid – 19 Information Hub

NJEDA COVID-19 Economic Relief Package

An extensive compilation of NJ resources and guidelines by NJ Food Council

Department of Labor and Workforce Development

NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development – Division of Unemployment Insurance

Food Industry Job Postings

State of NJ COVID-19 Jobs & Hiring Portal

NJDOL Benefits and the Coronavirus (COVID-19): What Employees Should Know

CDC Guidance for Conserving and Extending Filtering Facepiece Respirator Supply in Non-Healthcare (4/24)

Cloth Face Coverings for Retail Employees

COVID-19/Novel Coronavirus Information for New Jersey Businesses

SBA Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources

Updated news for New Jersey Food Businesses

AIB Business Solutions for COVID-19: Checklists, Webinars, and more

COVID-19 Resources for the Food Industry (The Acheson Group)

Coronavirus: Fresh Produce Industry Resources (United Fresh Produce Association)

Coronavirus Resources (Food Marketing Institute), includes: Preparedness Checklist; Coronavirus and Pandemic Preparedness for the Food Industry (member only resource; includes recommendations for supporting consumers, associates, human resources, retail stores, distribution centers/transportation, product suppliers, and interacting with the media).

FDA COVID-19 website: Food Safety and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

FDA: Guidance for Industry: Temporary Policy Regarding Preventive Controls and FSVP Food Supplier Verification Onsite Audit Requirements During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

FDA Food and Cosmetics Information Center

FDA has added food-specific FAQs to its website (continuously updated site),

4/14/2020 Summer Fancy Food Show is Cancelled

4/17/2020 CDC What to Do When A Food Processor Employee Tests Positive for COVID-19

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Other Resources

CDC Emerging Infectious Diseases (Journal): Detection of Novel Coronavirus by RT-PCR in Stool Specimen from Asymptomatic Child, China; discusses the ability to detect COVID-19

Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) Coronavirus Website – Resources

Food Safety Magazine: Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and Food Safety: A Time for Facts, Not Panic

Food and Environmental Virology (Journal): Survival of Respiratory Viruses on Fresh Produce