Ice Cream Samples Test Positive For COVID-19

Chinese authorities have seized thousands of containers of ice cream after three samples in the northern port city of Tianjin tested positive for the coronavirus. Tianjin Daqiaodao Food Company was forced to destroy 2,089 boxes while the government tried to track down the remaining 2,747 packages that had been distributed to supermarkets and wholesalers.

The company said that all of its 1,662 employees were tested and are in quarantine, and they have disinfected their manufacturing plant.

Officials said that the ice cream was likely contaminated by somebody who was sick and believe the virus was able to survive due to the cold temperatures that the ice cream is stored at. They said the ice cream was made using ingredients imported from New Zealand and Ukraine.

Authorities asked anybody who may have purchased the ice cream to contact local authorities and report their health.

Dr. Stephen Griffin, a virologist from the University of Leeds, told Sky News that there is no need to panic and suggested the contaminated ice cream was likely due to a breakdown in the company's health and safety protocols. 

"We probably don't need to panic that every bit of ice cream is suddenly going to be contaminated with coronavirus," Griffin said. "The chances are that this is the result of an issue with the production plant and potentially down to hygiene at the factory."

Photo: Getty Images


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