May 28, 2021
Fact sheet details steps to find weapons in fight against COVID in food production areas
By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast facts:
- Fact sheet describes EPA’s ‘N list’ process, uses
- Download fact sheet: https://www.uaex.uada.edu/publications/pdf/FSFCS-143.pdf
(247 words)
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — In the era of COVID-19, it may be time to get to know “List N” from the Environmental Protection Agency.
A new fact sheet published by the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers an overview of List N and how it can be used to keep SARS-CoV-2 out of food production at home or in commercial food service. The fact sheet was published in collaboration with Clemson University.
“List N is the EPA’s list of disinfectants for COVID-19,” said Kristen Gibson, associate professor, food safety and microbiology for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “While designed for food service establishments like restaurants and cafeterias, it can also be used to find disinfectants appropriate for use in the home.”
Products included in List N have been tested against the COVID-19 virus or similar coronaviruses that affect humans. Some disinfectants on List N may claim to be effective against certain viruses, also known as Emerging Viral Pathogens or EVPs, that are much harder to kill than SARS-CoV-2. Manufacturers of disinfectants can file for an EVP claim, which would potentially enable a product to be used against viruses not currently specified on a product label.
The fact sheet “Removing SARS-CoV-2 from Food Production Environments: US EPA List N for Chemical Surface Disinfection,” can be found at this link: https://www.uaex.uada.edu/publications/pdf/FSFCS-143.pdf
The EPA’s List N tool can be found online at https://cfpub.epa.gov/wizards/disinfectants/.
For more information on food safety, contact your local Family and Consumer Sciences agent at your county extension office.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: aaes.uada.edu. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu
Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk, @uaex_edu or @ArkAgResearch.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media contact:
Mary Hightower
mhightower@uada.edu
501-671-2006