• Reports of the first few coronavirus cases in the world came from Wuhan wet markets dealing with fresh meat of animals.
• Later, coronavirus outbreaks occurred in the meat processing industries of the world.
• Considering the common factor of animal meat in all this, meat-eaters worldwide were naturally gripped with fear.

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They were unsure whether they can safely continue to consume meat or avoid it totally. So can meat-eating spread coronavirus infection? We provide the answers here and bust some of the myths associated with it.

Meat-eating and coronavirus

Coronavirus erupted in Wuhan from the wild wet markets dealing with fresh meat and carcasses of animals. And worldwide, increasingly workers in the meat industry were affected with COVID-19.

Be it South Dakota, Texas, Washington, Germany, France, or Canada, a high proportion of people working in meat processing industries contracted coronavirus.

Therefore, this led the general public to feel that meat processed at these plants might be unhealthy, and consuming this meat might lead to and spread coronavirus.

People started avoiding meat and meat products. They replaced these with meat substitutes such as jackfruit and soybeans. Some even went to the extreme of putting up on social media messages like ‘No Meat, no coronavirus’.

But then even people who are vegetarian have tested positive for coronavirus. Some meat-eaters switched to a vegetarian lifestyle of eating.

They felt that this would save them from coronavirus. But many of these also got coronavirus and in some of these meat-avoiders, it was fatal.

The truth behind these myths

It was clear from some preliminary surveys that avoiding meat does not protect a person from coronavirus. And neither does consuming meat increase their risk of having coronavirus.

The European Food Safety Association also published an article that stated that there is no scientific evidence as yet that coronavirus spreads through meat, beef, or poultry.

Though the first coronavirus outbreak came from the wet markets of Wuhan, the scientists have remained unsuccessful in knowing which animal is responsible for the spread.

Initially, it was thought that snakes are the culprit. Later the indication seemed to go to bats that had caused SARS and MERS (previous coronavirus epidemics).

Later, pangolins were blamed. But though the exact animal could not be pinpointed, scientists did agree that there was no direct transmission from that animal to humans.

But an intermediate host carried it from that particular animal to humans. The mystery remains unsolved to date.

So should one eat or not eat meat during this pandemic?

People want to know whether it is safe to consume meat during this pandemic or not. WHO has said that meat can be taken during this time.

But to be on the safer side, it is best to thoroughly cook meat and eggs before ingesting them. Avoid raw meat at all costs. Cooking and heat kill most of the pathogenic microbes.

Click the link ahead to read on the Meat industry and coronavirus! Why are meat workers at high risk of coronavirus infection worldwide?

The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, USA recommends these 4 steps:

1. Clean your hands and cooking area well
2. Separate utensils for raw meat, seafood, and poultry.
3. Cook at right and high temperatures and for a prolonged time.
4. Refrigerate the meat. Do not keep it outside for more than 2 hours.