Food delivery services in spotlight

In response to the growing trend for ordering food via online delivery services, the city's food safety watchdog yesterday issued a warning for consumers to exercise caution.

Gu Zhenhua, deputy director of the Shanghai Food and Drug Administration (SFDA), said that although delivery firms are supposed to ensure that the restaurants they feature are properly licensed and meet food safety requirements, there is no specific legislation on the issue.

As a result of its own investigations, the SFDA has discovered that several companies featured on such websites are not actually licensed to prepare or sell food to the public.

"This is a new area, but we are working with other government bodies to draw up suitable regulations in a bid to ensure the safety of food sold online," he said.

In one case, the agency discovered that a company called "Xiangbalao Rabbit Meat Dish" that was featured on a delivery service website was run from a residential building and was not licensed to sell food. Other companies were found to be operating from premises with poor hygiene conditions, it said.

If consumers have any doubts about a particular food provider, they should check the SFDA's website at shfda.gov.cn, which features a list of every licensed eatery in the city and its food safety rating.

People with specific problems or complaints should call the agency's hotline on 12331.

Libby Wu, marketing manager of popular food delivery service Sherpa's, said that prior to being included on the company's site, all food providers are required to provide evidence that they are fully licensed.

"We also send our own staff to check on the establishments and taste their food," she said.