Hobart City Council to audit social food delivery vehicles to check health and safety standards

Complaints about cleanliness have put food delivery drivers in the spotlight as the Hobart City Council commits to an audit of the service.

A council audit of food delivery vehicles will initially focus on the North Hobart restaurant precinct, which has the highest concentration of social food delivery service providers. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

HOBART-based food delivery drivers face fines of up to $336 if they are found not to be compliant with food safety standards.

The Hobart City Council will undertake an audit of food delivery vehicles in the wake of the arrival of companies such as UberEats and Deliveroo in Hobart in recent years.

Food safety compliance checks will be carried out to ensure drivers meet legislative requirements for safe transport of commercially prepared food.

The audit comes after complaints about the cleanliness of vehicles and food handling practices by some food delivery drivers.

“We have a responsibility to ensure the safety of commercially prepared food being consumed in our city,” Deputy Mayor Helen Burnet said.

“We already inspect the premises where food is prepared and cooked, but food delivery vehicles have often been overlooked.

“With the social food delivery service industry expanding rapidly, we have a role in ensuring the principles of the Food Act 2003 are being met all the way from the kitchen to the [customer’s] door.”

The audit will initially focus on the North Hobart restaurant precinct, which has the highest concentration of social food delivery service providers

Cr Burnet said those who were found not to be compliant could receive a warning or be fined up to $336.

Alderman Marti Zucco had been behind a push for a by-law to regulate the parking of delivery vehicles and food handling standards, but this was voted down in favour of the audit.

“The only positive is that at least we are going to have delivery vehicles inspected,” he said.