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Food Safety Policy & Tips for Correcting Potential Issues
Food Safety Policy & Tips for Correcting Potential Issues
Updated over a week ago

Food safety policy

The law requires that all food meet certain food safety standards. Orders discovered containing food that does not meet these standards will be canceled at the shef’s expense.

These standards include, but are not limited to:

1. Each order must contain a minimum of two completely frozen 16.9 fl oz water bottles when dropped off at a hub or shef drop off location. Examples of safety violations include partially frozen water bottles, 0-1 water bottles, or water bottles that do not meet the 16.9oz size requirement.

2. All food must be unfrozen and below 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Orders that do not meet this food safety standard will be rejected or discarded at the time of drop off, with no exceptions. Orders will be canceled at the shef’s expense and customers will be refunded.

The law requires that your food meets certain food safety standards. Below we highlight several food safety issues to watch out for and provide suggestions on how to be food safety compliant.

Food Safety Issue

Suggestion

Insufficient Ice

For food safety reasons, each order should be packed with at least two 16oz water bottles to ensure a safe temperature (41°F or below, but do not freeze the food). Please make sure you are following all local food safety requirements

Soft Ice

1. Water bottles must be fully frozen (rock hard) prior to being packed in a customer's bag
2. Properly frozen water bottles should remain hard for up to 8 hours in a properly closed bag
3. Food that was packed warm will melt ice packs faster than normal, so always cool your food before packing

No Ice

If you don't have enough frozen water bottles, please use an alternative ice pack to maintain a safe temperature. Please make sure you are following all local food safety requirements

Temp above 41°F

According to safe food handling practices:

1. Food must be properly refrigerated to a temperature below 41°F prior to being packed
2. Food must be packed with at least two or more 16 oz water bottles or an alternative ice pack to maintain a safe temperature. Please make sure you are following all local food safety requirements
3. Bags must be properly sealed

Foreign Object in Food

In accordance with food safety regulations, remember to wear gloves and hairnets at all times, and to follow all local food safety requirements when preparing your dishes.

Expired / Spoiled Food

The Shef Marketplace is a place for you to sell freshly prepared foods. Your customers expect that you will not cook their dishes using old or expired ingredients and that you will comply with all local food safety regulations

Operational Issue

Suggestion

Food Quantity

1. Advertised amounts refer to the container size, not food weight
2. Remember to double check that the container you are using matches the amount advertised on your menu
3. Pro tip: the most successful shefs in the Marketplace fill their containers as full as possible while ensuring they don't overfill

Food Quality

1. As required by law, ensure that all food items are fully cooked
2. The most successful shefs ensure that quality is consistent between batches and cooking days

Incorrect Item

Double check that the items you pack match the list of items for that order (check on your dashboard or on the order label)

Missing Item

Double check that the items you pack match the list of items for that order (check on your dashboard or on the order label)

Missing Order

Double check to confirm that the number of orders you've cooked and packed matches the number of orders for that date in the dashboard

Late Cancellation

You're running your own business on your schedule and have full control to cook only when you wish to do so. You've agreed in the Terms of Service to fulfill your commitment to other users. We therefore recommend:

1. Updating your availability no less than 10 days in advance, to avoid affecting existing customer orders
2. If you encounter an emergency situation less than 10 days from your scheduled cooking date, please contact our team immediately so that we can help with any existing customer orders

Late shef

1. Shefs are expected to meet the commitments they make to other users, which means providing food at the drop off locations at the required time
2. Notify us of your estimated time of arrival when you know you're running late
3. Go to "My Profile" to see the contact information associated with your drop-off location

Packaging - Improper Labeling

Please follow this link for a helpful article on proper labeling

Packaging - Incorrect Container

Please follow this link for helpful info on pre-approved containers

Packaging - Spilled Food

For food safety reasons:

1. Ensure that pre-approved containers that meet food safety requirements are being used (more information available at this link)
2. Ensure that all lids are properly closed and secured before putting containers into delivery bags
3. Pro tip: some shefs wrap sauce containers in plastic wrap or a ziplock-style plastic bag to prevent additional spillage

Packaging - Incorrect Bag

For health and safety reasons, use Shef-provided insulated bags to pack your orders

Packaging - Dirty Ice Pack

For health and safety reasons, please ensure that the outside of the water bottles are clean prior to packing inside the bag. Please make sure you are following all local food safety requirements

Packaging - Ripped Bag

For health and safety reasons, if any part of a bag is ripped or broken, please dispose of the bag and do not use it to pack any of your customers' orders

Tips for cooling down your food during preparation

  • After the cut-off time for a delivery day, you normally have ​1-2 days ​to buy ingredients, prep them, cook the food fresh, cool it down, and safely pack it for delivery.

  • After the food is cooked, cool it to room temperature within 1 hour and transfer it immediately to a refrigerator. Always cool food down before packaging into containers to avoid warping your delivery containers.

  • Do not freeze​ your food.

  • Food must be cooled down safely to 41°F or below (but not frozen). Check food temperature with a thermometer.

  • Splitting large quantities of food into smaller portions before refrigerating helps to bring your food to a safe temperature quicker.

  • Think of ways that you can consistently deliver great quality, quantity, & value to your customers. If you are successful at consistency and quality, you will have customers that keep coming back for more - this is called retention! The higher your retention, the better you will perform over time!

  • Please make sure to follow all local food safety requirements and regulations. Below are some resources in case you need a refresher on your food safety training.

Make sure your food is refrigerated when dropping off your orders (or when your orders are picked up) for delivery to your customers. Your food needs to be within the temperature range of 33°F to 41°F.

If you drop off orders that do not meet these food safety guidelines, we will be forced to cancel your orders and refund the payment to your customers.

Baked goods that do not require refrigeration for safety (e.g. bread items) should still be cooled down to room temperature for delivery.

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