There is no scientific evidence to show that coronavirus spreads through eating chicken, mutton, and seafood, FSSAI chief G S G Ayyangar said on thursday and asserted that the virus would not survive in higher temperatures.
"It is basically an animal virus. Let us leave it to scientists to figure out how it has been transmitted...however, ours is a tropical country and once the temperature crosses 35-36 degrees celsius, no virus will survive. Let us pray to god that winter ends and the temperature rises," he said.
There are at least 29 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection in India. Amid apprehensions that the infection could spread through eating chicken, mutton, and seafood, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of india (FSSAI) CEO said there is a misconception about it. "There is a misconception that coronavirus will spread through chicken, mutton and seafood. There is nothing like that. It is scientifically not proven. I am a scientist, I will not buy this argument," Ayyangar told reporters. Poultry bird prices have plunged to Rs 10-30 per kg at farm gate level due to a slump in chicken demand while the average cost of production is Rs 80 per kg, the All india Poultry Breeders Association had said in a representation to the Ministry of Animal Husbandry.
