“A hungry man can’t see right or wrong. He sees food.,” states Pearl. S. Buck. Every human work is intended towards one common goal, to get food. Food is an essential form of survival. Food to eat and a place to shelter are the basic needs of any human to survive. You can be a multi-billionaire or an ordinary assistant. Either way, you will end your day with a bowl of food. Food is what makes people equal.
The coronavirus pandemic has made people struggle for food. People are confined to their homes with no work. Restaurants across the nations are closed. But people need food, don’t they? Modern technology has rolled up its sleeve and has provided us a solution. You needn’t go searching for food. Your food will reach your doorsteps in no time. This is the power of modern technological advancements. On-demand food delivery apps are providing food deliveries to people almost instantly. In this quarantine season, food delivery apps are growing exponentially. But are these food deliveries safe enough? What are the measures to be taken by food delivery platforms to ensure the safety of food packages? Let’s discuss them here,
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Initiatives taken by food delivery platforms to ensure the safety of food packages:
‘Ensure zero contact deliveries.’
This is a primary initiative to be taken by food delivery platforms. To prevent a massive outbreak of the disease, online platforms must ensure zero-contact deliveries. This could mean that there is no external contact between users and delivery professionals. This zero contact deliveries can be achieved if users instruct delivery professionals to place their food packages at a confined place rather than exchanging the packages. This ensures that there is no human-to-human interaction when delivering food packages.
‘Disable cash on delivery.’
Food delivery platforms can disable cash on delivery option to its users. By encouraging cashless transactions, there is no contact made between users and delivery professionals. It is useless if you do contactless deliveries and enable cash on delivery from users. Either way, the risk of transmission is high. Hence, food delivery platforms must consider disabling the cash on delivery option until the pandemic season. To help people in need, food delivery platforms can consider disabling the option only in high-risk zones, where the disease is spreading like wildfire.
‘Ensure hygiene standards at restaurants.’
Every safety measure goes in vain if the restaurant producing the food does not follow hygiene standards. Ensuring strict hygiene standards at restaurants is highly essential. Restaurants can come forward and assure that the food they produce adheres to strict personal hygiene. Food delivery platforms can encourage restaurants to sanitize vessels for every 2 hours. Moreover, constantly checking chefs and workers for temperatures can keep the situation under control — the more the safety, the lesser the transmission.
Food delivery platforms should encourage restaurants to follow proper hygiene and sanitation procedures. Prevention is always better than cure, isn’t it?
How can food delivery platforms ensure the safety of delivery professionals?
Just like Doctors and nurses working hard in this pandemic season, delivery professionals, too, are risking their lives to ensure the services of the people. While we sit cozy in our homes waiting for food to be delivered, delivery professionals are experiencing a near-to-death situation with the external world. The safety of these delivery professionals is paramount to the food delivery platform. Here’s how the safety of delivery professionals can be ensured.
‘Providing them safety gear.’
Delivery professionals, who are in direct contact with the external environment, should not act as carriers of infection. Food delivery platforms must ensure their safety by providing them safety gear. The safety gear includes gloves, masks, alcohol-sanitizers, etc., that help them prevent them from infection. Delivery professionals must be made aware of proper hygiene and sanitation procedures. Proper awareness of delivery professionals regarding how the disease spreads can be greatly beneficial. It is high time food delivery platforms ensure delivery professionals’ safety because they can become the direct victims of COVID-19.
‘Rider Relief fund and Insurance.’
Contributing to a fund that can help delivery professionals directly can be beneficial. Food delivery platforms can encourage its users to contribute to the fund during the time of checkout. Don’t tiny drops make a mighty ocean? Even a small amount from millions of users can turn the amount hefty and huge. Food delivery platforms can provide delivery professionals with insurance, as well. In case any delivery person faces positive signs of the pandemic, the food delivery platform should take full responsibility for the person’s hospitalization, cover lost earnings, etc.
How can food delivery platforms give back to the distressed society?
Food delivery platforms should work towards the empowerment of society. It is high time these online platforms support people in need. Now, how can food delivery platforms give back to society?
‘Feeding people in need.’
Online food delivery platforms can tie-up with major restaurants in the town, and can provide people with hunger with food. This initiative can help several people who do not have the capability to buy food. This initiative can act as a spark for multiple platforms to provide food to people in need. Always remember, food is god. You can help a million lives falling prey to hunger with this initiative. This isn’t going to cost the online platform that much money. In fact, what is service, if it doesn’t serve people in need?
‘Managing food wastes through food wastage apps.’
In certain situations, people who order food do not eat the food completely. The food reaches the bin without any use. It may be a bit staggering, but every year 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted. Isn’t this something that needs immediate attention? Online food delivery platforms can join hands with food wastage apps. With a single tap on the smartphone, a delivery professional can pick up wasted food and provide it to people in need.
Love and food are meant for sharing and not wasting. So, online food platforms can make sure food isn’t wasted. Users, too, from their side, can provide food to the needy and distressed. According to Pope Francis, “Wasting food is like stealing from the table of those who are hungry and poor.” So, think twice before wasting food.
In a nutshell,
Our society is waging one of the deadliest wars against the coronavirus. Our only role in the pandemic is to stay safe in our homes. Doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, delivery professionals are ensuring just that. What else do you need when you get doorstep services? Safety is paramount in this quarantine season. As a food delivery platform, it is mandatory to ensure the safety of food packages, delivery professionals, and restaurants. Adopting proper measures can break the transmission chain. Proper hygiene and sanitation procedures can prevent outspread on a global scale. Giving something back to society can greatly benefit the distressed. Benjamin Franklin quoted this way back, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” So, stay safe and healthy. Let us fight this war together!