Drone Delivery and Food Safety

For the first time, a pilot program for drones delivering food is being implemented. Starting next week, GrubHub will be conducting a three-month test at the Green Brook NJ "Wonder" location. In the 2.5 mile radius of the concept restaurant, customers will be able to choose "drone delivery" at no additional cost. "Wonder" is a restaurant chain designed around being a hub kitchen: they "partially cook the majority of its meals in central production facilities, employing blast-chilling methods for transportation to local hub kitchens, where the final cooking and finishing touches take place" (1). Each "Wonder" kitchen boasts meals from 10-15 different menus, going from mobile order to final prep to delivery in about 30 minutes. 

"Wonder" does not rely on start-to-finish food service seen in most restaurants. As CEO and founder Marc Lore describes, the food is "distributed to its restaurants, which finish the food with [...] 'lightly trained labor' using only a hot water bath, a rapid-cook oven, or a fryer" (2). With this in mind, how will the "lightly trained labor" manage to balance food safety practices with the drone flight crews? The news release states they will be working with the FAA to ensure safe routes and minimal distruption when it comes to the drones themselves, and made sure to add that the "trained [Dexa drone] flight crews verify that all items are packaged correctly and secured in accordance with operational and food‑safety standards" (3). But what are these standards?

Are we staring in the face of a new food delivery system? What does this mean for future training across the industry? Some of the largest concerns are increased potentials for contamination and time-temperature abuse; it will be important to ensure rigorous testing of their food safety system. Hopefully more details will emerge as the program unfolds -- stay tuned to this blog for future updates!

(1) What is Wonder? -- The Digest Online

(2) Why Food Delivery Startup Wonder is Suddenly Everywhere -- Eater

(3) GrubHub and Dexa Introduce New Jersey's First Drone-Powered Food Delivery Program -- GrubHub