COVID-19 Resources

Factsheets- English

Factsheets - Spanish 

We kindly thank our colleagues at Emory University and North Carolina State University Extension for the creation of these fact sheets and social media images.

*For more fact sheets and social media resources from the North Carolina State University Extension team, please visit the new FoodCoVNET website: https://foodcovnet.ces.ncsu.edu/welcome-to-foodcovnet/ and the NC State COVID-19 website: https://foodsafety.ces.ncsu.edu/covid-19-resources/.

To view references used to create these resources and meet the review panel, check out NC State's reference page

FDA Updates

FDA Briefings 

Food stakeholders call was held on March 18th, 2020 to discuss food safety questions related to COVID-19. Audio files and transcripts are available for review: https://www.fda.gov/food/workshops-meetings-webinars-food-and-dietary-supplements/fda-briefing-foods-stakeholders-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-03182020-03182020

FDA Guidance

• Best Practices for Retail Food Stores, Restaurants, and Food Pick-up/Delivery Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic. To view the factsheet, please click here. To view the summary infographic, please click here. Issued 4/9/2020
• Fact Sheet for safely distributing unused human food use as animal food
• Reporting a Temporary Closure or Significantly Reduced Production by a Human Food Establishment and Requesting FDA Assistance During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (Issued 5/27/2020)
• Temporary Policy During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Regarding the Qualified Exemption from the Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption (Issued 5/27/2020)
• Temporary policy for Preventive Controls and Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) food supplier verification onsite audit requirements (Updated 6/4/2020)
• Temporary policy regarding accredited third-party certification program onsite observation and certificate duration requirements during the COVID-19 public health emergency

Memorandum of Understanding

The USDA and FDA have announced that the agencies have signed a memorandum of understanding to support the U.S. food and agriculture sector in order for Americans to have continued access to a safe and robust food supply. To read Memorandum of Understanding 225-20-011, please click here. 

Press Releases and Resources

• New- February 24, 2021: The FDA published a new web page, COVID-19 Vaccination & the Food and Agriculture Sector, to share information and resources to help employers in the Food and Agriculture sector communicate about COVID-19 vaccination to their workforce.The page includes links to information about: (i) the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines authorized for emergency use by the FDA and fact sheets in more than 25 languages; (ii) a CDC tool kit in different languages with key messages to reach essential workers about COVID-19 vaccination; and (iii) information about the availability of vaccines in your community. As the COVID-19 vaccine supply increases, the FDA hopes these resources will help leadership and management of food and agriculture operations support worker vaccination. When an essential worker gets a COVID-19 vaccine, they protect themselves, their families, co-workers, and their communities. Healthy workers help to ensure the availability of a safe and plentiful food supply.
• New- February 18, 2021: After more than a year since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak was declared a global health emergency, the USDA, the FDA and the CDC continue to underscore that there is no credible evidence of food or food packaging associated with or as a likely source of viral transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus causing COVID-19. To read more on this update, please click here. 
• December 30, 2020: The FDA published a new toolkit to help stakeholders communicate in English and Spanish about hand sanitizer safety and use during the COVID-19 pandemic. New materials include social media messages and graphics, consumer information, and health professional messaging. Furthermore, a new COVID-19 Communication Toolkits webpage provides links to all FDA toolkits on COVID-19 topics to help everyone communicate accurate and timely information. 
• August 19, 2020: Employee Health and Food Safety Checklist for Human and Animal Food Operations During the COVID-19 Pandemic. The FDA and OSHA are providing this checklist for FDA-regulated human and animal food operations to use when assessing operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially when re-starting  operations after a shut down or when reassessing operations because of changes due to the COVID-19 public health emergency caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2. To view the checklist, please click here. 
• July 29, 2020: Updated FAQs: What do U.S. exporters of FDA-regulated food products need to consider related to COVID-19? 
• The FDA released informational materials for food industry in Spanish, Somali, Hmong, and many other languages. This assistance provides food safety best practices for retail food stores, restaurants and food pick-up/delivery services during the COVID-19 pandemic. To view these resources, either click on the desired language in the above text or click here. 
•  COVID-19 Update: FDA updates on surveillance inspections during COVID-19. To view this statement, please click here. 
• FAQs: Should employees in retail food and food production settings wear face coverings to prevent exposure to COVID-19? To read this article, please click here.
• Updated FAQs: How do I maintain social distancing in my food production/processing facility and food retail establishment where employees typically work within close distances. To read this article, please click here.
• COVID-19 Update (March 28, 2020) FDA takes further steps to help mitigate supply interruptions of food and medical products. To read this article, please click here.
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update: FDA focuses on safety of regulated products while scaling back domestic inspections. To read this article containing links to the checklist and infographic, please click here.
• FDA issues re-opening best practices checklist and infographic for retail food establishments that closed or partially closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To read this article, please click here.
• FDA offers assurance about food safety and supply for people and animals during COVID-19. To read this article, please click here.
• FDA's perspective on food safety and availability during and beyond COVID-19. To read this article, please click here.
• FDA provides flexibility to the food industry to support food supply chain and meet consumer demand during COVID-19. To read this article, please click here.
• Shopping for food during the COVID-19 pandemic- Information for Consumers
• What to do if you have COVID-19 confirmed positive or exposed workers in your food production, storage, or distribution operations regulated by FDA  

State-Specific Resources