NCCO International 
Delivery and takeout are more popular than ever, but few restaurants predicted the shift in their business. Even though the change has been good for business, plenty of diners are concerned about the safety of their meals. Are delivery and takeout safe, and what can restaurant owners do to make them safer?
How Safe is Takeout and Delivery Food?
It’s vital to ensure that your food is as safe as possible. Initially, there was confusion about who was responsible for food safety with delivery. Ultimately, the security of your food reflects on your restaurant.
Ways to Increase Safety for Each Order
Luckily, there are multiple ways to improve food safety for takeout and delivery customers. Foodservice operators achieve higher security through temperature control, reduced cross-contamination, and tamper-evident labels.
Temperature Control
Controlling temperature isn’t usually a problem in a restaurant, where food goes from the kitchen straight to the plate. However, temperature plays a huge role when the food is boxed up and taken out of the dining room.
According to the FDA, bacteria multiply between 41° and 135° Fahrenheit. In a kitchen, numerous temperature controls keep food out of this “danger zone.” However, when you pack the food for takeaway or delivery, these temperature controls disappear.
The most popular solution for this problem is temperature-controlled containers. Special containers keep foods at a constant temperature, with divisions for hot and cold items. These containers are one of the best ways to prevent bacterial growth for takeout and delivery orders and to keep food safe for the customer.
Avoiding Cross-Contamination
Cross-contamination is a serious problem for kitchens. With the extra handling that comes with delivery or even takeout, you must find ways to avoid it. Several systems help you avoid cross-contamination in the kitchen, so your food arrives without issue.
A food rotation labeling system prevents cross-contamination before it starts. Dissolvable, reusable, and permanent labels keep track of your ingredients to reduce spoilage and prevent foodborne illness.
Preventing cross-contamination in the kitchen maximizes your food’s chances of arriving without issue. This prevention leads to healthier, safer meals for your customers and repeat purchases. After you’ve controlled the back end of the transaction, you’ll need a way to prevent contamination during transit.
Making Orders Tamper-Evident
The problem still exists during transit even if you prevent cross-contamination in your kitchen. We’ve all heard stories of food arriving at someone’s doorstep after being mishandled. Mishandling reflects poorly on the restaurant and may lead to consequences for your business.
Tamper-evident labels solve this issue by adding an extra layer of security to orders. These labels have cut marks that break if someone meddles with an item. You can adhere tamper-evident labels to a wide range of packaging, including temperature-controlled containers.
Food Safety Products from NCCO
You can find food safety products from NCCO. Our automated labeling systems and tamper-evident labels give your customers peace of mind. Contact us to request a label sample or get help selecting the perfect product for your kitchen.
