Federal Agencies Collaborate to Provide Guidance for Third-Party Food Delivery Services

Dec. 14, 2022

Food Safety News has released an article on the guidance offered by federal agencies on third-party food delivery services (summary from the website is available below):

Original article: https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2022/12/third-party-food-delivery-services-are-offered-guidance-from-federal-agencies/

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration in coordination with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has collaborated with the Conference of Food Protection (CFP) to release food safety best practices for third-party delivery services. 

Although it is not intended to provide a “one-size-fits-all” approach, the recommendations, provided through a 49-page best practices document, focuses on the key parameters companies should consider when delivering food to consumers. This Guidance Document for Direct-to-Consumer and Third-Party Delivery Service Food Delivery, outlines the parameters critical to preventive controls, mechanisms to assess risk, recommendations for proper packaging, temperature control, physical and chemical contamination control, and allergen control. It also includes, general food safety information, and suggestion for return of compromised and abused products. 

The release of these recommendations aligns with the FDA’s New Era of Smarter Food Safety blueprint, as it addresses the safety of foods ordered online and delivered directly to consumers, which is an outlined priority of the FDA.

The information provided within the document may also contain useful advice for delivery of foods intended for immediate consumption from restaurants where the delivery is under the control of the restaurant who prepared the food and delivered by a restaurant employee, although not specifically covered by the document (Conference for Food Protection, 2020 - updated).