Restaurants providing contactless delivery: But is your food safe?
Contactless delivery, a new safety initiative?
We are witnessing the disruption of the world economy as the Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 continues to spread across countries at a rapid rate. As a measure of prevention, many people have self quarantined themselves by staying at home to stop the transmission of the virus. And Restaurant businesses around the world take a hit as self-isolation becomes important, dine-in and takeaway at restaurants is not an option. However, ordering for food online is becoming a preferred means of indulging in restaurant food. The popular food aggregator apps such as Zomato and Swiggy are promising 'contactless delivery' to their customers and big fast food brands such as Dominos India and McDonald's are revamping their processes to focus on hygiene.
What is contactless delivery?
In a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19, self-isolation is being taken very seriously. This means not getting out to the shops for food and supplies. But takeaways are now offering a contactless delivery to protect both the customer and the driver. Customers can now ask the delivery guys to leave food at a safe place such as a doorstep. This step has been taken to minimise the contact between the two parties.
Regarding this preventive measure, a KFC India spokesperson said, “To ensure health & safety of our consumers as well as team members in the current situation, we have rapidly put in place stringent operational protocols. These include sanitizing of all restaurant areas at regular intervals through the day and frequent sanitizing of tables, counters, doors and door handles every 30 minutes. Our delivery teams wash and sanitize their hands, alongside sanitizing delivery bags, after delivering each order. We are also launching ‘Zero Contact Delivery’ service, which will ensure that our trained delivery member will deliver food at the consumer's doorstep, without any contact with the consumer for prepaid orders. The riders will follow a strict protocol of wearing masks and hand gloves at all times during the delivery process”.
Can COVID-19 spread through food?
As the virus spreads through sneezes, exhales and coughs in a form of droplet transmission, it is unlikely that the virus will spread through food unless someone infected with the virus contaminated your food. To avoid a situation like this, our favourite fast-food giants like Taco Bell India and others are adapting to the practice of social distancing and adhering to the cleanliness and hygienic standards.
“The health and safety of our employees and consumers is of utmost priority. Hence, we have taken additional measures, above and beyond our existing hygiene best practices like increasing the frequency of hand washing and sanitizing. Our kitchen staff use gloves at all times, and food preparation stations are cleaned and disinfected every hour. We are committed to continue delivering on our promise of ‘Trust in Every Bite’ to our consumers, whether they dine at their nearest Taco Bell restaurant, or choose to take-away or order-in, as per their convenience,” said a Taco Bell India spokesperson.
Your food is safe!While the matter is quite fragile, if taken proper measures, we can beat the risk of being infected by the virus. Several restaurants and food outlets are trying their best to maintain hygiene for the staff as well as the customers. Initiating 'contactless delivery' is just the first step to make it a safe exchange between the driver and the customer. Self-quarantining never said you couldn't eat your favourite food! We hope that other restaurants also take the matter as a priority and practice proper hygiene.
Heat your food
However to ensure double safety, heat or microwave your food at high temperature before you consume it.
T
We are witnessing the disruption of the world economy as the Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 continues to spread across countries at a rapid rate. As a measure of prevention, many people have self quarantined themselves by staying at home to stop the transmission of the virus. And Restaurant businesses around the world take a hit as self-isolation becomes important, dine-in and takeaway at restaurants is not an option. However, ordering for food online is becoming a preferred means of indulging in restaurant food. The popular food aggregator apps such as Zomato and Swiggy are promising 'contactless delivery' to their customers and big fast food brands such as Dominos India and McDonald's are revamping their processes to focus on hygiene.
What is contactless delivery?
In a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19, self-isolation is being taken very seriously. This means not getting out to the shops for food and supplies. But takeaways are now offering a contactless delivery to protect both the customer and the driver. Customers can now ask the delivery guys to leave food at a safe place such as a doorstep. This step has been taken to minimise the contact between the two parties.
Regarding this preventive measure, a KFC India spokesperson said, “To ensure health & safety of our consumers as well as team members in the current situation, we have rapidly put in place stringent operational protocols. These include sanitizing of all restaurant areas at regular intervals through the day and frequent sanitizing of tables, counters, doors and door handles every 30 minutes. Our delivery teams wash and sanitize their hands, alongside sanitizing delivery bags, after delivering each order. We are also launching ‘Zero Contact Delivery’ service, which will ensure that our trained delivery member will deliver food at the consumer's doorstep, without any contact with the consumer for prepaid orders. The riders will follow a strict protocol of wearing masks and hand gloves at all times during the delivery process”.
Can COVID-19 spread through food?
As the virus spreads through sneezes, exhales and coughs in a form of droplet transmission, it is unlikely that the virus will spread through food unless someone infected with the virus contaminated your food. To avoid a situation like this, our favourite fast-food giants like Taco Bell India and others are adapting to the practice of social distancing and adhering to the cleanliness and hygienic standards.
“The health and safety of our employees and consumers is of utmost priority. Hence, we have taken additional measures, above and beyond our existing hygiene best practices like increasing the frequency of hand washing and sanitizing. Our kitchen staff use gloves at all times, and food preparation stations are cleaned and disinfected every hour. We are committed to continue delivering on our promise of ‘Trust in Every Bite’ to our consumers, whether they dine at their nearest Taco Bell restaurant, or choose to take-away or order-in, as per their convenience,” said a Taco Bell India spokesperson.
Your food is safe!While the matter is quite fragile, if taken proper measures, we can beat the risk of being infected by the virus. Several restaurants and food outlets are trying their best to maintain hygiene for the staff as well as the customers. Initiating 'contactless delivery' is just the first step to make it a safe exchange between the driver and the customer. Self-quarantining never said you couldn't eat your favourite food! We hope that other restaurants also take the matter as a priority and practice proper hygiene.
Heat your food
However to ensure double safety, heat or microwave your food at high temperature before you consume it.
T