Food delivery inspection checklist

Inspect the vehicle for cleanliness, proper temperature control equipment, and separation between raw and ready-to-eat foods. Check that the transport containers are clean, in good repair, and appropriate for food contact. Also verify that the vehicle has no signs of pest infestation and that food is protected from potential contaminants during transit.

Use a calibrated food thermometer to check that hot foods maintain temperatures above 60°C (140°F) and cold foods remain below 5°C (41°F). Record these temperatures on your checklist as documentation. For longer deliveries, verify that insulated containers or active heating/cooling systems are functioning properly to maintain safe temperatures throughout the entire delivery route.

Assign responsibility to staff with food safety training who understand temperature requirements and contamination risks. This could be a dedicated quality assurance person, shift supervisor, or properly trained receiving staff. The responsible person should have authority to reject deliveries that don’t meet standards and initiate corrective actions when problems are identified.