As more consumers turn to platforms like DoorDash, SkipTheDishes, Uber Eats, and Foodora, so have food operators. Think you’re ready to join the world of food delivery? Here are 5 tips to ensure food delivery safety and that might help you getting ServSafe certified.
1. Pick partners with the right delivery processes
Food delivery companies seem to work in the same way—a customer places an order, their rider goes to pick it up and deliver it. But there’s much more.
Find out how their delivery riders handle the orders. How is the food kept? What’s the maximum delivery duration? Does the company have an efficient delivery tracking system?
56% of consumers say that factory-sealed sauces and dressings are the safest type of packaging used for takeout and delivery orders.
2. Ensure high food packaging integrity
No matter the weather, delivering food can be a challenge, affecting the quality and food safety of your delivered meals. Ensure that your food delivery company uses insulated bags to keep your food warm and fresh during delivery.
Use practical, quality food packaging such as thicker, biodegradable materials that can hold moist food well for longer period of time.
The CDC recommends to use "single-use options or identify one person to serve sharable items, like salad dressings, food containers, plates and utensils, and condiments" once the food is received by customers. A recent study from Datassential² reports that 56% of consumers say that factory-sealed sauces and dressings are the safest type of packaging used for takeout and delivery orders.”
3. Use long-lasting ingredients to avoid spoilage
Consider having a line of dishes that are created especially for delivery. You can also use better quality, long-lasting ingredients like Hellmann's Real Mayonnaise and ready to use, stable sauces like the Knorr® Professional Sauces line to prepare your already popular meals for delivery.
4. Run inspections for consistent, optimal food safety
The last thing any food operator wants is delivering spoilt or tainted foods that may harm customers or create a PR disaster.
Hire staff dedicated to perform quality checks, or train your existing team in a certified food handling course to ensure food safety standards are met.
5. Make the use of sanitisers, gloves and hairnet compulsory
Setting up kitchen safety rules to keep the kitchen clean is the first step towards maintaining good food safety. Small practices like using hand sanitisers, gloves and hairnets can go a long way. You can also place signs in the restroom to remind employees to wash their hands with soap after each visit.
These are all cheap and easy ways to protect your food from being contaminated before delivery.
Most importantly, ensure that your food delivery company uses insulated bags to keep your food warm and fresh during delivery.
Great food delivery starts with the right ingredients
Opt for quality, durable ingredients when preparing food for delivery. Check out Unilever Food Solutions products to get started!
Hear From A Chef
Video: Al Forno
Chef Alessandro shares how this long-standing Italian restaurant successfully combined their traditional dishes with modern-day food delivery.
FREE Guide: Getting Started with Food Delivery
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1Datassentials: COVID-19 Report 5: Sheltered (March 27)
²Datassentials: One Table Consumers Data Table (May 2020)
