Staffing

Delivery driver food-safety course launched

Photo: iStock

July 31, 2020

In response to the pandemic-induced uptick in delivery and to-go orders, foodservice training provider, StateFoodSafety has launched an online training course for food delivery orders, a news release said.

The 10-minute course provides delivery drivers with a basic understanding of vital food safety principles. Topics covered include how to prevent cross-contamination during transport, proper driver hygiene, what symptoms should keep a driver home from work, and how to safely transport Time/Temperature Control for Safety foods.

The $5 course can be used as supplementary training for restaurant and retail employees who help deliver food as well as drivers for third-party delivery services like UberEats, Grubhub and DoorDash, the release said.

Although food safety training is generally not required for food order delivery drivers, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found that training corresponds to an increase in actual, practical knowledge of food safety, which can help prevent foodborne illness.

"This is a time of unusual circumstances where lifestyles have been adjusted and food delivery has seen an increase," Bryan Chapman, CEO of StateFoodSafety, said in the release. "With this increase comes a need to ensure that the food being delivered is safe for consumers. Food safety is critical at an establishment and during delivery and should be treated with equal concern."

Along with the delivery driver course, StateFoodSafety offers multiple free COVID-19 resources for restaurants and retail food businesses.