The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in coordination with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, collaborated with the Conference for Food Protection (CFP) to release food safety best practices for third-party delivery services. These recommendations focus on key parameters companies should consider when delivering food to consumers.
Addressing the safety of foods ordered online and delivered directly to consumers is a priority outlined in the New Era of Smarter Food Safety blueprint. Consumers are increasingly ordering food from a variety of online retailers, including produce and meal-kit subscription services, ghost kitchens (which only prepare and fulfill orders for delivery, without a physical storefront) and third-party delivery services and programs. The best practices document identifies mitigating measures to potential food safety vulnerabilities, including those that may arise in the “last mile” of delivery.