Many busy families use food and meal delivery services as a way to balance work, school, activities, and dinner. The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is highlighting safety for food delivery services. These services can include:
- Mail-order food
- Subscription meal kits
- Home-delivered groceries
- Restaurant deliveries
Tips for Food and Meal Delivery
It’s not just about the food—make sure food safety and proper handling is part of your order.
- Research restaurant and companies’ safety practices
- Check restaurant inspection reports
- How the food is packaged and temperature controlled
- Make sure someone is home when food is delivered
- Perishable foods such as meat, seafood, eggs, and dairy need to be put in the refrigerator or freezer as soon as possible
- Food that has been sitting out for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour if it’s above 90°F outside, can make you sick.
- Check packaging to make sure there is no damage, and food was shipped with packaging to keep food cold (ice packs, dry ice), if needed
- Check temperature of food—hot food should be hot, and cold food should be cold
- Germs that cause food poisoning multiply quickly when food is in the “danger zone” between 40°F and 140°F.
For more tips on food delivery safety, visit FoodSafety.gov
Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Home Delivery Meals
CDC and public health officials in several states are investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to certain home delivery meals made by Metabolic Meals.
Right now, Virginia is not affected by this outbreak. However, if you do get Metabolic Meals–it’s important to not eat affected products.
Learn more about this outbreak and the products that are affected.
What VDH is Doing
To learn how VDH works to keep your food safe, visit our food safety website.