Not going out for sit down dinners just yet? Did the pandemic increase your food delivery orders? Do you think about your food being safe during delivery? Has your twenty-piece entrée arrived with five pieces missing? Ordering food to be delivered right to your door is still a higher practice compared to two years ago.
Food delivery, home-delivered groceries, and other mail ordered foods (Mailing Perishable Foods) delivered right to your door are very convenient options, yet it can pose the question…is my food safely handled when in route?
Food delivery, home-delivered groceries, and other mail ordered foods delivered right to your door are very convenient options.
Faith C Isreal, ©2021, Clemson Extension
Food safety and restaurant sanitation are critical. Restaurants have a standard of food safety operational requirements to follow. The varying delivery food companies have their own rules, standards, and procedures to abide by, yet food safety training for food delivery drivers may not be required.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have found that training food order delivery drivers can help to prevent foodborne illness. Food delivery drivers should work to implement these food safety guidelines for a safe food delivery experience:
- Stay home if you are sick and do not proceed to make any food deliveries.
- Properly wear a face covering/mask that meets CDC guidelines.
- Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after using the restroom, smoking, or any other activity that might pose a contamination risk.
- Utilize a clean insulated delivery bag for food transportation.
- Never touch a customer’s food, as it should remain in its original packaging.
- Utilize an alcohol-based hand sanitizer (≥ 60% alcohol) between delivering orders.
It may seem that life is slowly getting back to normal. During these uncertain times, educating ourselves about Food Safety and COVID-19 can help for better understanding and safe food practices.
