What’s the 411 on eating fast food during the coronavirus?

Now that the novel coronavirus is a pandemic, your friendly neighborhood fast food critic has devised this post to answer foodie questions and quell fears.

There’s no question that coronavirus has wreaked havoc on human society. From quarantines to canceled schools and events, life as we once knew it has been virtually suspended until the pandemic gets under control. This is the case within the fast-food industry, which has had to adjust on the fly to this new reality of living life with a coronavirus.

Naturally, people have been wondering if it’s safe at all to eat out and to quell those fears, your friendly neighborhood fast food critic will attempt to answer some frequently asked questions or concerns you have in mind.

1. Is it really safe to eat fast food during the coronavirus?

The short answer is yes. Most fast-food chains have resorted to rigorously cleaning and disinfecting their stores, using products certified by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) that will kill the coronavirus on the surface.

2. Why have Dunkin’ and Starbucks stopped using my cups for refills? I thought they were trying to be more ‘environmentally friendly?’

Starbucks and Dunkin’ made the call to stop refilling personal cups out of sanitary concerns for both the customer and the worker. For now, until the pandemic stabilizes, no one can get a refill of their cup of Joe in their personal cups. You’ll have to get it in one of their cups instead.

Both Dunkin’ and Starbucks have said that the refill price will continue to be honored for now, but one has to legitimately wonder how long that will last? Also to be questioned is their new-found environment stance, especially for Starbucks, which may have a hard time keeping up with their sustainability goals if they’re going through a mountain of cups on a daily basis.