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Journals / Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi / 2026 / Volume: 70 Issue: 1

Presence of SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces and materials in supermarket social areas in Türkiye

Muammer Göncüoğlu(ANKARA UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF VETERINARY, DEPARTMENT OF FOOD HYGIENE AND TECHNOLOGY)0000-0001-7245-1941
Naim Deniz Ayaz(KIRIKKALE UNIVERSITY, FACULTY OF VETERINARY, DEPARTMENT OF FOOD HYGIENE AND TECHNOLOGY)0000-0003-2219-2368
Sabri Hacioglu(Etlik Veteriner Kontrol Merkez Araştırma Enstitüsü)0000-0002-5493-0807
Samiye Öznur Yeşil(Etlik Veteriner Kontrol Merkez Araştırma Enstitüsü)0000-0002-8776-3822
Özcan Yıldırım0000-0002-1113-6136
Cevdet Yaralı(Etlik Veteriner Kontrol Merkez Araştırma Enstitüsü)0000-0002-0391-9456
Harun Seçkin(T.C. Tarım ve Orman Bakanlığı Gıda ve Kontrol Genel Müdürlüğü)0000-0003-1115-6708
Bekir Pakdemirli(T.C. Tarım ve Orman Bakanlığı)0000-0002-0336-0613
Pages
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Publication Date
2022-12-30
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The results showed that all the supermarket samples collected during the period when there was a high number of COVID-19 cases in the district did not have SARS-CoV-2 except for one sample that was taken from a supermarket where COVID-19 had been detected among the staff.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:The aim of this study was to monitor the presence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that cause the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), particularly on certain foods and surfaces that come in contact with food in district supermarkets in Ankara, Türkiye, where the highest number of COVID-19 cases was reported based on data from the Ministry of Health.
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Key Findings & Data:For this purpose, a total of 172 samples were taken from 5 supermarkets in 4 districts in Ankara.
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Conclusion & Impact:The results showed that all the supermarket samples collected during the period when there was a high number of COVID-19 cases in the district did not have SARS-CoV-2 except for one sample that was taken from a supermarket where COVID-19 had been detected among the staff.
🔬Design:Lab & Field Experiment
📍Scope:2019 · 172 samples
⚙️Variables:Contact surfaces · foods · real time RT-PCR

Abstract

The aim of this study was to monitor the presence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that cause the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), particularly on certain foods and surfaces that come in contact with food in district supermarkets in Ankara, Türkiye, where the highest number of COVID-19 cases was reported based on data from the Ministry of Health. For this purpose, a total of 172 samples were taken from 5 supermarkets in 4 districts in Ankara. RNA was extracted from the samples and RdRp gene-targeting reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assays were used to determine the presence of SARS-CoV-2. The results showed that all the supermarket samples collected during the period when there was a high number of COVID-19 cases in the district did not have SARS-CoV-2 except for one sample that was taken from a supermarket where COVID-19 had been detected among the staff. In this supermarket, COVID-19 RNA was detected with a high number of copies of 5 000, using Real-Time RT-PCR assay in pooled swab samples taken from salt shakers, pepper shakers, red pepper shakers, and vinegar and oil bottles in the social area that the staff used for lunchbreaks and other breaks. This finding shows that it is of great importance for public health agencies to monitor COVID-19 cases in food businesses in regions with a high number of cases and to take samples from these businesses at certain intervals, as a form of “early warning system.”

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Cite This Article

Göncüoğlu, M., Ayaz, N. D., Hacioglu, S., Yeşil, S. Ö., Yıldırım, Ö., Yaralı, C., Seçkin, H., Pakdemirli, B. (2022). Presence of SARS-CoV-2 on surfaces and materials in supermarket social areas in Türkiye. Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, Volume: 70 Issue: 1. https://doi.org/10.33988/auvfd.915360

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