The State Food and Veterinary Service (VMVT) is conducting an investigation into hygiene breaches involving major food delivery platforms following reports of improperly stored equipment in residential areas.
Reports of Hygiene Concerns in Šnipiškės
New evidence has emerged from the Šnipiškės district, where a resident named Vaidas highlighted images of delivery bags from Wolt and Bolt piled untidily in a residential courtyard. The images, captured by Evaldas near the Senvagė gymnasium stadium, have raised concerns regarding the safety and hygiene of delivered meals.
According to resident reports, approximately 10 couriers reside in a single apartment building, a claim supported by the volume of delivery vehicles parked at the site. Residents expressed concern over whether regulatory services are effectively monitoring these conditions.
Regulator Takes Action
The VMVT confirmed that while they had not received a formal report regarding this specific incident in Šnipiškės, the information has been added to their ongoing investigation. The service noted a recent increase in reports concerning dirty delivery equipment and gear left in inappropriate locations.
Representatives from the two primary delivery platforms have met with the VMVT to discuss how consumer complaints are handled, how the platforms communicate with couriers, and how the overall delivery process is supervised. The parties agreed on the necessity of tightening processes and improving communication with couriers to ensure food safety and hygiene requirements are met.
Corporate Responsibility and Standards
Wolt has previously stated that its courier-partners collaborate on an individual activity basis and are personally responsible for the maintenance of their equipment, including delivery bags.
According to Akvilė Grašytė, a communications specialist for the Baltics at Wolt, the company introduces partners to hygiene and food transport requirements at the start of their collaboration and provides reminders at least once per quarter. The company has since increased the frequency of these reminders, instructing couriers that bags must be cleaned periodically and stored indoors when not in use.
Mandatory Hygiene Requirements
The VMVT emphasizes that food delivery activities may only be performed with a permit issued by the service. Companies are required to maintain systematic information about their couriers to ensure the traceability of the food supplied.
- Vehicle Standards: Surfaces must be clean, easy to clean, and disinfectable.
- Equipment: Delivery vehicles must be equipped with hygiene supplies, such as disposable napkins, and wipes.
- Storage: Delivery bags or cold bags must be clean and orderly, with food transported according to the manufacturer’s storage conditions.
Consumers are encouraged to document any instances of spilled, damaged, or low-quality food, as well as dirty delivery bags, by taking photographs or videos. To verify if a delivery company is officially registered with the VMVT, consumers can use the following portal: https://vmvt.lt/opendata/mtsr/.
Potential Next Steps
Following the meetings between the regulator and the platforms, it is likely that stricter communication protocols will be implemented for couriers. The VMVT may continue to monitor residential areas for equipment violations, and the platforms could potentially face sanctions if further violations are identified during the investigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the health requirements for food couriers?
Couriers must undergo a health check and hold a valid health knowledge certification before they are permitted to start working.
How can I tell if a delivery service is operating legally?
You can check if a company is officially registered and operating with a VMVT permit via the official open data portal at https://vmvt.lt/opendata/mtsr/.
What should I do if I see a dirty delivery bag or damaged food?
The VMVT advises consumers to capture the evidence by taking a photo or recording a video of the incident.
Do you believe delivery platforms should be more directly responsible for the equipment used by independent courier partners?
