Are speedy delivery apps skimping on food safety?

Food services like UberEats and the New York-based Maple, which promise fresh meals in under 20 minutes could be compromising food safety? It’s an issue that health inspectors, particularly in Austin, Texas, have been grappling with. They just can’t keep up with the rates of delivery.

RAW_Uber-deliveryCurrently in Austin, pizza delivery drivers and other takeout services are not regulated as a restaurant would be, because delivering fresh food within minutes of making it gives the dish very little time to spoil.

“We are looking into some new apps that we have discovered in recent months,” said Vincent Delisi, the assistant division manager in the environmental health services division of the health department.

They will be checking if the kitchens in which these super-fast delivery services prepare food are up to snuff, or if the meals are being prepared in unauthorized kitchens. Most of these instantaneous food companies insist that they follow all health and safety procedures.

“Delivery drivers with UberEATS are equipped with temperature controlled containers and are offered guidance on best practices to preserve food temperature throughout the service window of 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.,” Uber spokesperson Debbee Hancock told KXAN News.

This entry was posted in Food Safety Policy and tagged , , , by Douglas Powell. Bookmark the permalink.

About Douglas Powell

A former professor of food safety and the publisher of barfblog.com, Powell is passionate about food, has five daughters, and is an OK goaltender in pickup hockey. Download Doug’s CV here. Dr. Douglas Powell editor, barfblog.com retired professor, food safety 3/289 Annerley Rd Annerley, Queensland 4103 dpowell29@gmail.com 61478222221 I am based in Brisbane, Australia, 15 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time