Meal-Kit Use in the United Kingdom: Implications for Food Safety

Meal-kit delivery services provide consumers with measured ingredients and step-by-step recipe guidance for the preparation of meals in a domestic setting. Subscriptions to companies that provide meal-kit delivery services have grown over the last decade, with the market value forecast to continue. During this period, a substantial increase in the popularity of domestic cooking has been reported, particularly preparing and cooking food using raw ingredients. Furthermore, during the COVID-19 pandemic, subscriptions to meal-kit delivery services increased considerably. This trend is expected to be maintained, with consumers opting for the convenience of home-delivery options that provide healthier, more diverse, and interesting recipes with less food waste. The domestic kitchen is recognized as a key location for acquiring foodborne illness without implementation of recommended food safety and handling practices. As meal-kit delivery services enable consumers to prepare and cook food at home using raw ingredients, there are possible implications associated with food safety and potentially increased risks of foodborne illness. Given the association of the domestic kitchen with the sporadic incidence of foodborne illness, this current consumer trend presents unique food safety challenges. The aim of the article is to investigate the potential food safety implications associated with increasing meal-kit use in the United Kingdom and provide recommendations for future research in relation to consumer engagement with meal-kits and meal-kit recipe cards.