By now, there’s a good chance you’ve dabbled in online grocery ordering — many people have. But those who lean into the convenience of grocery shopping from their phone or computer rarely give much thought to how their food was handled before arriving at their door.

For example, how long was it in the delivery vehicle after leaving the store? Did the delivery sit out beside your front door for a while before you had a chance to put the items away?

While many of us focus on the speed and convenience of grocery delivery, there’s one question that probably doesn’t get asked enough: Is my food actually safe to eat? Fortunately, knowing what to watch out for can help you avoid foodborne illness and enjoy your groceries with a bit more peace of mind.

Keep reading as we break down the biggest risks — from temperature control issues to cross-contamination risks — and how you can stay safe while enjoying the convenient perks of grocery delivery.

Risk #1: Temperature Control

For Ellen Shumaker, a food safety expert and director of outreach for the Safe Plates program at North Carolina State University, temperature control is one of the most significant risks that comes to mind with online grocery delivery.

“Harmful bacteria can grow in many foods if the foods are in the temperature danger zone, which is between 41 degrees F and 135 F,” she said. “Foods that need to be temperature controlled for safety include any foods containing animal products, pre-cooked vegetables and grains, as well as cut melons, tomatoes, or leafy greens.”

So, how can you reduce this risk? Plan to be home when the groceries are delivered, and put them away as quickly as possible, Shumaker said. If you’re not home for the delivery or are concerned the item might have fallen into the “temperature danger zone,” Shumaker suggests using a digital thermometer or infrared thermometer to check the food’s temperature.

Tamika Sims, senior director of member and partner engagement at the International Food Information Council (IFIC), pointed out that fresh fruits and vegetables with short shelf lives deserve extra attention. “If peeled, cut, or cooked, they should be stored in the fridge or freezer within two hours — and will only last for a few days,” she said. And that includes the unknown amount of time it was in transit.

If you buy frozen foods, you must place them in the freezer as soon as possible to prevent thawing. “If a frozen food item has thawed completely and has been above 40 degrees F (4 degrees C) for more than two hours, it should be discarded,” said Vanessa Coffman, director of the Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness.

It’s also important to check any frozen items for signs of thawing and refreezing, she advised. “Avoid products with ice crystals on the packaging or food, as this may indicate temperature fluctuations that can compromise safety and quality,” she said. “In addition, frozen foods should be solid and stored at 0°F or lower upon delivery or purchase.”

Risk #2: Cross-Contamination

When shopping at the supermarket, most people know to keep raw meat separate from other foods. The same theory applies if you’re ordering your groceries online. This means that when your food is delivered, raw meats and poultry should be separate from ready-to-eat foods like lettuce, to prevent cross-contamination, according to Coffman.

“An order that contains raw meat or other potentially hazardous foods could result in cross-contamination,” said Matt Taylor, global senior manager of food consulting at NSF, which is an organization that develops and certifies public health standards for food safety and sanitation. “For example, juices from a package of raw chicken at the top of a basket or delivery bag could leak into a ready-to-eat salad or cake, contaminating the product.”

His advice for avoiding cross-contamination? “It’s better to be safe than sorry – if something doesn’t look or smell right, throw it out,” he said. “Always use a reputable site to place your orders, and don’t hesitate to complain if you see an issue.”

Risk #3: Food Allergies

Another possible risk relates to food allergies. “There are instances where, if a requested food product is not available, it is substituted with another food product,” Shumaker said. “I could see this being an issue if a product containing an allergen is substituted without the customer’s knowledge.”

Her advice for reducing risk? If anyone in your home has an allergy, closely review labels for any substituted products to ensure the product doesn’t contain allergens.

Risk #4: Damaged Packaging

If your food packaging is damaged upon delivery, that item may be unsafe to eat. Packaging can be damaged in all sorts of ways — a vacuum-sealed package that’s been punctured, a dented can, a torn box or bag, a leaky carton of milk, the list goes on.

“Rough handling could compromise food integrity, such as a seal being broken or a plastic or foil package being punctured,” Taylor said. “This could lead to spoilage or contamination due to bacteria being allowed to enter.”

When shopping in the supermarket, you probably give each item a once-over before tossing it in the basket. At home, you’ll want to do the same with your delivered groceries before storing them.

“I recommend looking closely at all groceries when they arrive to ensure that no packaging is damaged or shows signs of pests,” Shumaker said.

Beyond packaging, “off appearance, taste, or smell of a product once it is opened are clear signs that you should not consume a product,” Sims said. “It should be returned or disposed of.”

Most companies accept returns and offer refunds for damaged products.

What do delivery companies do to minimize food safety risks?

Just because a food safety issue can arise doesn’t mean it will. Most supermarket brands with delivery options have food safety protocols to mitigate risks, and some even hire independent safety organizations to conduct audits to ensure proper food safety practices are in place, Taylor said.

These food safety practices include things like:

• Regular staff training
• Using appropriate packaging materials
• Recording temperatures of delivery vehicles
• Cleaning programs for delivery vehicles and storage containers
• Procedures to identify and discard problematic products

“Some delivery companies, including retailers who offer deliveries themselves, invest in optimizing delivery routes to minimize transit times, providing more precise instructions for delivery personnel and customers, providing quality control measures and regular audits of the delivery process, and monitoring real-time temperature during transit,” Taylor explained.

There aren’t regulations specific to grocery delivery, but in 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Conference of Food Protection, released a guidance document that outlines best practices in food safety, “including preventive controls and recommendations for packaging, temperature control, cross-contamination and allergen control,” Taylor said.

Many companies use insulated packaging, dry ice and gel packs to keep perishable items at a safe temperature during transit. Some also offer real-time tracking and short delivery windows to help ensure that cold items stay cold.

Walmart, for example, has a number of food safety practices in place for its online grocery deliveries.

“We use a variety of methods to ensure food safety before and during delivery, including stringent protocols, cold chain technology, separate packaging, and science-based controls to limit the delivery times for perishable products,” said Jacquelyn Cook, director of executive communications at Walmart.

Additionally, Walmart trains all delivery drivers (including staff and contractors) in various aspects of food safety, including cleanliness, hygiene, and temperature control protocols, such as how to track temperatures before and during deliveries.

Meanwhile, meal kit delivery service HelloFresh has quality control teams in place to ensure food safety throughout their supply chain, according to Tim Finnerty, VP of food safety and quality at HelloFresh U.S. They manage tasks like food safety inspections, inspecting delivery trucks to ensure the trailer conditions are appropriate for shipment, and developing package cooling systems to keep items refrigerated during transit.

He said, “We also adjust the amount of ice and liner type based on the seasonality and the weather conditions at the delivery destination.”