Crisis management seminar

While transmission of COVID-19 via surfaces is plausible, it is highlyunlikely.

High-level advice

The transmission of the COVID-19 virus via food or food packaging represents a very low risk for food handlers, the public, and consumers. Virus transmission by food is highly unlikely. Virus transmission via food packaging is highly unlikely.

REFERENCES

Goldman, E. (2020). Exaggerated risk of transmission of COVID-19 by fomites. The Lancet Infectious Diseases. doi:10.1016/ s1473-3099(20)30561-2

Kampf et al. (2020). Persistence of coronaviruses on inanimate surfaces and its inactivation with biocidal agents. Journal of Hospital Infection. doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2020.01.022 Public Health Ontario (2020) COVID-19 Routes of Transmission – What We Know So Far. www.publichealthontario.ca/-/

media/documents/ncov/wwksf-routestransmission-mar-06-2020.pdf?la=en

van Doremalen et al. (2020). Aerosol and Surface Stability of SARS-CoV-2 as Compared with SARS-CoV-1. N Engl J Med, 382:1564-1567. doi:10.1056/ NEJMc2004973

Crisis management seminar

BY DEON MAHONEY The presenters provided examples of HEAD OF FOOD SAFETY, PMA real-world incidents and their impact. AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND They also highlighted the importance of P MA Australia New Zealand recently hosted the seminar Crisis management in the fresh preparedness to manage a crisis: • Being proactive — identify what could go wrong and how it will impact your business • Develop a crisis management plan — ensures your business response produce sector. is well organised and efficiently executed with the right personnel in The seminar was in response to serious incidents that had occurred in the a timely manner, with an emphasis on an effective communication plan primary production sector and food • Present regular training sessions industry in recent years, and underlined and simulations to assist with the need for businesses to be preparedness. better organised to manage such incidents. The seminar featured presentations by Peter Every business seeks to avoid an incident or A properly constructed crisis management plan will not protect you from incident, but it will ensure any McGee, David Hawkins, and Sean Dignum outlining the impacts of incidents, crisis that will damage theirreputation. disruption is minimised and your ability to continue in business is how to manage an incident, safeguarded. and the importance of effective crisis communication. MORE INFORMATION Every business seeks to avoid an incident or crisis that will damage their reputation. Unfortunately, no business is protected from the possibility, especially as incidents can take many Video content from the seminar is available on the PMA Australia New Zealand website: www.pma.com/Global-PMA/ANZ/ News/2020/Crisis-Management-in-theFresh-Produce-Sector forms. This includes: a food safety issue, product tampering, a workplace accident, an environmental concern, or employment practices.