Since the implementation of "food safety seal" in Beijing for two months, the utilization rate has gradually increased, but many takeaway brothers have found that the protection effect is not good. Guard the safety of the tip of the tongue. How should the "lock" of takeout be put on? Experts believe that it is necessary to cultivate usage habits, promote the further popularization of sealing labels, and promote the standardization of sealing materials and styles, so as to realize the dual protection of consumers and takeaway brothers.
At noon on June 2, Xuqiang, the delivery boy, came out of the store carrying the food as usual. The buckle of the bag in his hand was firmly entangled by the adhesive tape, which said "please confirm that the seal is intact before signing".
On April 1, Beijing officially launched the code for the safety management of online catering services (hereinafter referred to as the code), which clearly stipulates that the packaging of takeout "should be sealed with irrecoverable takeout packaging labels or one-time sealed outer packaging bags" to reduce the food exposure risk in the distribution process. In Beijing under the epidemic, due to the cancellation of food in the hall, the demand for takeout increased sharply, and the protective significance of the seal became more prominent.
Since the implementation of the new regulations two months ago, the reporter found through continuous investigation that the use rate of sealing has been continuously improved, reaching 90% at present. However, many of the takeaway boys interviewed reported that some seals were formalistic and difficult to be torn and replaced. Some seals were of poor quality and poorly pasted, and even easy to breed new misunderstandings and increase the responsibility of riders.
How can "food safety seal" better protect food safety? Can we realize the dual protection of consumers and takeaway brothers?
90% of the merchants are "locked" for takeout
At 6:00 p.m. on April 3, the reporter saw in a food city in Dongcheng District, Beijing that only one rice noodle store wrapped the lunch box with fresh-keeping film, and another two stores sealed the handbag with staples, while the rest of the merchants did not have sealing measures. In front of a stall, the boss greeted the customers of the restaurant, stuffed the lunch box into a plastic bag, tied two knots, and hurriedly handed it to the delivery boy. When the reporter asked why he didn't affix the seal, the other party was a little confused: "I'm sure I won't spill it. Don't worry."
On April 24, the reporter visited the food city again. This time, nearly half of the businesses have started to use sealing. A stall owner told reporters that he received a background prompt from the platform, "I bought simple adhesive strips online together with the next door, and each one was less than two cents."
On April 30, Beijing pressed the "pause" button of the food hall. On May 16, the reporter chose a Liangpi store in the above food city that had not been sealed before to place an order. It was found that a sticker was added to the takeaway package, which said "if the seal is damaged, you can reject the food".
"The sealing is gradually spread out. At the beginning of May, the coverage rate was 60%, and now it can reach 90%." Xu Qiang said that on average, he delivers 60 orders a day, and only a few have not been sealed recently. They are basically scattered merchants operating independently. "Before the promulgation of the new regulations, small stores were hardly sealed. Recently, measures have been taken one after another. Brand stores pay more attention to their image and began to uniformly customize their seals a few years ago."
In the opinion of Sheng Lin, the delivery boy, the seal is a "double protection" for consumers and the delivery boy. In the past, the food was different. It was difficult for customers to determine whether the problem was the merchant or the rider. Once he sent out a roast duck. The customer opened it and found that it was all bones and leftovers. A phone call came and he was unable to argue. "With the seal and signature, I can clarify my responsibilities. If the seal and signature are intact, I don't have to carry the pot."
Xu Qiang frankly said that most riders would not touch the food, but it does not rule out that individuals pollute the takeout to vent their anger, which has ruined the reputation of the industry. "If the sealing effect is good, it can not only protect food safety, but also rebuild the trust between us and our customers."
Different sealing forms make the effect discounted
According to the "standard analysis and implementation guidance" issued by the Beijing Municipal Market Supervision Bureau for the specification, there is no fixed rule for the sealing style of takeout. As long as the purpose of "irrecoverable after opening" can be achieved, disposable sealing labels, self-adhesive outer packaging bags, safety cards, staples, sealing tapes and other methods can be used.
But Xu Qiang felt that these methods could not meet the requirements: "like staples, you can open them and order again." According to his observation, many seals in the market are "unqualified" at this stage. "Most of the merchants who pack with plastic bags will wrap the mouth of the bag with adhesive strips, while those who use non-woven cloth bags and kraft paper bags are mostly sealed with staples or stickers. Some adhesive strips and stickers do not have tear proof design. If the rider really intends to open them, they can be completely uncovered and pasted back without leaving any traces."
During the delivery process, Xu Qiang found that the long strip seal with good protection effect has a serrated gap at one end, which is very easy to break in case of external force and cannot be completely removed. "This kind of seal only accounts for 10%, and four or five orders can be met every day."
However, even if the seal is properly designed, it does not mean that it is safe. Wanghuaiji, the delivery brother, told the reporter that he had seen that a colleague accidentally broke the seal and asked for a new one from a familiar merchant when taking the meal. The other party handed him one without saying a word.
The reporter noted that most of the seals of small stores are purchased from the e-commerce platform. The styles are similar, and there is no store icon on them. If they are replaced halfway, consumers will not be able to identify whether they are "original".
Although he felt it was inappropriate, wanghuaiji did not say anything to remind him, because he had broken the seal himself. "During the peak period, I often have to carry sevenoreight takeout orders in one hand. Sometimes I accidentally remove the seal, especially those with thin materials and poor adhesion." Since then, in order to avoid misunderstanding, he had to sacrifice part of the distribution efficiency and carefully take care of the takeout.
A few days ago, when Sheng Lin took a handbag out of the distribution box, he found that the stickers stuck on both sides of the opening were wet by moisture and cracked from the middle. He was embarrassed to explain to the customer, but the other party didn't take it seriously, which made him feel complicated: "the merchant pasted it carelessly, and the customer doesn't care. There is a seal, and the seal consciousness hasn't kept up. If you really encounter problems, you still have to wrangle."
Besides popularization, standardization is more important
Although the seal is small, it is connected with the merchants, riders and consumers, which is the "last mile" related to the safety of takeout food. Many consumers interviewed believed that, on the one hand, we should continue to cultivate usage habits and promote the further popularization of sealing; On the other hand, promote the standardization of seal materials and styles, not only protect the food from pollution, but also prevent riders from falling into a new "embarrassment".
"The cost of sealing and signing is low. The problem of realizing full coverage lies in the insufficient attention of all parties." Pan Helin, CO director and researcher of the digital economy and financial innovation research center of the International United Business School of Zhejiang University, believes that the takeout platform should be well guided, such as pushing the detailed rules for use to merchants, uniformly making or purchasing compliance seals, and marking whether there is a seal on the order page. By influencing consumers' choices, more merchants are forced to seal their meals.
"In the past, when I arrived at the store, I only cared about whether the food was ready. Now I still pay attention to the packaging process unconsciously. When I met some businesses that did not affix seals, I would remind them to tell them what I knew and how to buy." Sheng Lin said.
Pan Helin believed that standardization should be carried out at the same time of popularization, and more effective sealing methods should be screened out through practice.
The reporter found that since this year, Zhejiang, Anhui, Inner Mongolia and other places have successively advocated the use of food safety seals, of which the provisions of Zhejiang are relatively clear. For example, if single-sided sealing is adopted, it should meet the requirements of length ≥ 12.5cm, width ≥ 2.0cm and thickness ≥ 0.75mm; If the double-sided sealing label is used for sealing, the middle sealing shall be used, and the sealing length shall not be less than 1/3 of the total length, and the width shall not be less than 2.0cm. In addition, staples, transparent glue and other simple seals cannot be used as takeout seals.
Based on his own distribution experience, Xu Qiang suggested that zigzag or fish scale tear proof design should be added to the seal, and the shop icon should be attached. If conditions permit, it is best to add a layer of plastic packaging in the lunch box. "As soon as the dishes are ready, they are put into the dining box. The lid is easy to be pushed open by the hot air. Plastic sealing not only has a good sealing effect, but also solves the problem of sprinkling soup that riders often face."
(at the request of the interviewee, some are pseudonyms)