A recent study has characterized the challenges of ensuring food safety in “dark kitchens”—which sell food for takeout or delivery solely via online platforms and may operate out of shared kitchens—from the perspectives of both environmental health officers and the business operators themselves.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Request for Information regarding food labeling information provided through online grocery shopping platforms.
Singapore has recently released new guidelines for food e-commerce for industry that outline food safety best practices related to products sold online or through e-commerce channels.
Since e-commerce food businesses are not regulated as traditional food manufacturers based on the current Code of Federal Regulations, these models are regulated under the "honor system." The way in which consumers are buying food has changed dramatically, and so must the regulations to ensure public health and safety associated with these foods.
The IAFNS 2022 Annual Meeting and Science Symposium featured a panel that addressed emerging food safety concerns associated with new modes of food retail, such as e-commerce, ghost kitchens, and delivery services.
A recent study found that food recalls may negatively affect brands that rely on e-commerce more than brick-and-mortar retailers, and that it may be harder to restore consumer confidence for online brands even when voluntarily restorative actions are taken.
In October 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted a New Era of Smarter Food Safety Summit on Ecommerce: Ensuring the Safety of Foods Ordered Online and Directly Delivered to Consumers.
