[set fair (OP)]

For the dried fruit I'm thinking particularly of the not so dry dried fruit such as dates and figs.

[alancalverd]

Depends whether anyone has sneezed on it in the last few days. We are given to understand that viruses and bacteria don't survive very long outside their preferred environments, though freezing may prolong their viability at the expense of their reproduction, which is why you shouldn't refreeze stuff you buy as frozen.

I'm more concerned by fresh meat. Apparently there is a glut of carcasses due to butchers and packers working in close proximity and infecting each other with COVID19, which originally transferred to humans from fresh or live meat. Given the biocompatibility of pig organs, this might be a good time to eat kosher, if not vegetarian.

[set fair (OP)]

Yes a good time to stock up on beans. 25Kg of harricot beans £50 to £60. Stocking up isn't the same as hoarding. Doing it before a shortage feeds into the market forces. For example, livestock farmers in the USA are cuttinng back due to the meat packing problems, so they and animal food producers are more likely to switch to growing beans if there is growing demand now.

[Drmarkf]

Depends whether anyone has sneezed on it in the last few days. We are given to understand that viruses and bacteria don't survive very long outside their preferred environments, though freezing may prolong their viability at the expense of their reproduction, which is why you shouldn't refreeze stuff you buy as frozen.

I'm more concerned by fresh meat. Apparently there is a glut of carcasses due to butchers and packers working in close proximity and infecting each other with COVID19, which originally transferred to humans from fresh or live meat. Given the biocompatibility of pig organs, this might be a good time to eat kosher, if not vegetarian.

The point surely is that the fruit is usually eaten raw, while anyone eating raw meat could be said to deserve what they get ;-)

So cooking meat will kill the virus, and standard kitchen hygiene advice is to wash your hands after handling raw meat and to take care to avoid cross contamination among foods via knives, chopping boards etc.

I doubt anyone’s going to own up to not doing that, but you never know...

[Bored chemist]

Doing it before a shortage feeds into the market forces.

Putting up the prices for those who don't have the cash to invest £50 or£60.
Nice...