Online food ordering is convenient and fast, allowing you to enjoy delicious meals without leaving your home, making it the top choice for many office workers and homebodies. However, food safety issues with online ordering have always been a concern. In response, the Hunan Provincial Food and Drug Administration has required food delivery platforms to conduct internal rectifications to fully guarantee the "safety of the tip of the tongue" for the public. Recently, "Ele.me" conducted unannounced inspections on nearly 10,000 merchants in its Hunan platform, finding 48 restaurants in violation. The business operations of these merchants on the platform will be shut down. So, what are the hidden dangers of online food ordering?
Hazard 1: Food Hygiene Issues
Although ordering food online is very convenient, some restaurants frequently have problems with food hygiene and safety. Moreover, many unlicensed workshops appear on online food ordering platforms. Although the government has increased its supervision of the food and beverage industry, some "slippery fish" are inevitably missed, so food hygiene issues in online ordering are still very noteworthy.
Solution: According to the "Measures for the Investigation and Handling of Illegal Acts in Online Food Safety," food delivery platforms should register and review online merchants and display their licenses and certificates. Therefore, when ordering, be sure to check the restaurant's business qualifications. Don't just go for the cheapest option; it's best to order from large-brand chain restaurants or restaurants you have personally visited in person.
Hazard 2: High Fat Intake
Among takeout or fast food, rice bowls with a topping are the most common. Many people think that rice bowls with toppings have both vegetables and rice, are convenient to eat, and mixing the rice and vegetables evenly with the sauce is an irresistible taste. In fact, the reason rice bowls with toppings are delicious is that they contain plenty of oil and salt. Eating one such meal can easily lead to excessive intake of fat and salt.
Solution: Pay attention to the cooking method when selecting your meal. Order less of dishes that use a lot of oil by nature, such as braised eggplant or "di san xian" rice bowls. Try to find meals where the vegetables and rice are served separately, or ask the restaurant to pack them separately. Finally, break the habit of mixing your rice with the vegetable sauce.
Hazard 3: Nutritional Imbalance
Due to differences in cooking methods, oil usage, and delivery time, many data points show that compared to food cooked at home, takeout food contains more fat, less fiber, and insufficient vitamins and minerals.
Solution: When choosing takeout, don't just choose single-item rice bowl meals. Try to choose set meals that include 2-3 dishes with a mix of meat and vegetables. Alternatively, order several stir-fried dishes with a few people to achieve a variety of food types when eating takeout.