Category: Cooperative Extension
Food Is On The Way — Make Sure It’s Safe!
May 02, 2022 Written by Kathleen Splane, Extension Agent & FCS Program Leader
The coronavirus pandemic has had a huge impact on the way Americans get their food through home delivery, from meal kits to restaurant and grocery delivery. According to the 2021 Food and Health survey conducted by the International Food Information Council, 72 percent of Americans say the pandemic is changing the way they eat and prepare food.
Responding to the increasing use of food delivery services, the Partnership for Food Safety Education has launched a new national campaign to help food delivery users ensure the safety of their delivered food. The Prep Yourself: Food Is on the Way campaign specifically targets users of food delivery services. It seeks to encourage safe food handling at home and educate consumers on what to consider when ordering from food delivery services. It’s important to understand that food safety matters. Foodborne illness is preventable but more widespread than Americans realize. Lost revenue, long-term health consequences and even death can be the result.
When it comes to food delivery, here are some things you can do to keep you and your family safe from foodborne illness:
Be delivery smart
Before ordering, take steps that will help ensure the food you want to enjoy stays safe.
Ask questions to understand the delivery company’s safety standards. Arrange for delivery when someone is at home so food can be refrigerated or stored quickly instead of being left outside until someone comes home. Find a safe space for delivery if no one will be at home when the food arrives. This space should be cool, shaded and secure from pests and rodents. Include this location in your order. When your delivery driver hands off your food, they also hand you the responsibility of keeping your food safe. Be sure to examine the box and packaging. Observe if there are “keep refrigerated” or “keep frozen” stickers on the boxes and store accordingly.
Know your role
As the way we receive food changes, the core food safety practices remain essential to protecting our health and the health of those we love. Follow three simple steps to fulfill your role-wash counters, wash hands and cook, serve and save.
Wash counters
In observational studies conducted by the USDA, more than 94 percent of people did not properly clean or sanitize counters before food prep. Cleaning surfaces with hot soapy water can reduce the spread of harmful bacteria in your kitchen. You can’t see, taste or smell the bacteria that cause foodborne illness. These germs can make you sick if ingested, and they spread through contact with surfaces, utensils and food. Being prepared before you plate or prepare your delivered food is a great food safety step.
Wash hands
During the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, good handwashing practices got a boost. As time goes on, complacency about handwashing can set in again. Handwashing can prevent one in three diarrhea-related sicknesses and is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of bacteria. Wash your hands before plating or prepping any of the food you have delivered, after using the bathroom, changing diapers and handling pets. Wash with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds.
Cook, serve, or save
When food is delivered, serve ready-to-eat foods immediately, cook raw foods you are ready to prepare now and properly store foods you plan to eat later. Refrigerate or freeze any raw meat, poultry, eggs, cooked food or cut fresh fruits or vegetables that arrive in the grocery order or meal prep kit within two hours. Bacteria can rapidly multiply if food is kept in the “danger zone” between 40°F and 140°F for more than two hours. Use a food thermometer to measure the internal temperature of cooked foods and cook them to the correct temperature.
Report issues
Reporting illness due to food is a critical part of keeping food safe for everyone. Notify the company if you suspect tampering or that perishable food was left out too long. Don’t eat the food or even taste it to see if it is safe.
Whether you use meal kits, restaurant delivery or grocery delivery, home food delivery gives us great food options. Even as the world is opening up, these options will continue to be embraced by Americans. With so many more ways to bring food into our homes, our role in keeping food safe has never been more important.