Delivering Safety and Hygiene: Online Food Delivery during Crisis

Life in Pandemic Era Series

Abstract

The COVID-19 outbreak is a clinical syndrome and may cause severe acute respiratory disorder. Coronavirus was proclaimed as a pandemic by the World Health Association (WHO) on March 11, 2020. In Malaysia, the government has implemented the Movement Control Order (MCO) which suggests all non-essential sectors be closed temporarily as to prevent the spreading of COVID-19 virus. This has caused many restaurants to become prohibited for dine-in and people are advised to have takeouts instead. Therefore, food deliveryservice became consumer’s choice during the MCO period. The government advised all food handlers to implement a complete and proper food management system so that food safety and hygiene can be assured since many people are afraid of the potential of COVID-19 being transmitted on food surfaces or packages although it is not a typical foodborne disease. This COVID-19 crisis also affected the progress achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 especially on the effort of achieving SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 2 (zero hunger), SDG 8 (decent work and economic growth), SDG 14 (life below water) and SDG 15 (life on land). This paper discusses the approach on online food delivery (OFD) during COVID-19 pandemic, the government measures to ensure food safety and hygiene as well as how approach in OFD affects and helps in achieving the SDGs.

Click here to watch video abstract.