Researchers have said more needs to be done to ensure that the growth of dark kitchens is accompanied by effective food safety measures. Dark kitchens offer ready-to-eat meals for delivery or takeout through online platforms, including social media, mobile applications, restaurant websites or via phone/email. In 2020, it was estimated that more than 750 dark kitchens were operating in the UK.
A study involving a survey and two focus group discussions with Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) and 16 interviews with dark kitchen owners and tenants was conducted in England between April and May 2024. Results published in the journal Food Control revealed multiple challenges faced by dark kitchen operators in managing food safety in shared spaces, food handling during delivery, high turnover of staff, and delays in updating menu changes with online aggregators. There were struggles in maintaining hygiene and cross-contamination risks because of shared resources and conflicts over responsibility for pest control.
Operators mentioned how the food handling practices of delivery drivers was concerning, based on consumer complaints. Two strategies were shared by dark kitchen operators to address some of these challenges. They include training and more frequent food hygiene inspections.
Local authority view A total of 123 responses were received from 91 local authorities in England. The majority had inspected a dark kitchen. Issues found by EHOs in identifying and inspecting these site.