Food is among my greatest weaknesses. More so, the convenience of getting it whenever I want it.
Even though I know how to cook, I don’t always do it because my schedule is unpredictable, and sometimes I just don’t feel like it.
So you can imagine how deeply delivery apps fit into my lifestyle.
The magic of tapping my mobile phone and having dishes appear at my doorstep is timelessly tempting. For the longest time, that was where my money went.
But all it took was a controversial Instagram video and a moment of uncomfortable self-reflection to break that habit.
It was enough to make me realize how scary the system actually is. I can’t trust another dispatch app again.
I made it my business to check what I was really eating
The results made me sick to my stomach
I stumbled across an unnerving video while scrolling through the IG web app. A woman explained a situation she experienced with a popular delivery service in my region.
According to her, the company had allegedly created a business profile using her brand name without her consent. They then fulfilled customer orders on their app with meals she didn’t prepare.
The food was noticeably subpar. Complaints piled up because customers assumed the poor-quality meals came from her actual business. Eventually, the backlash pushed her to look into the matter.
During her investigation, she found multiple issues. Everything related to her business had been fabricated. Her comment section was full of people sharing experiences.
Some confirmed long-term concerns about declining meal standards on the app. Business owners commented that they, too, discovered their identities were being used without proper agreements or partnerships.
There were mentions of reactions and allergies. Although these claims are still unverified, the sheer number of people reporting issues makes it difficult to ignore. I could relate with them.
I had ordered a shawarma from my favorite spot shortly before finding the video. It tasted odd on the first bite, and I remember feeling a wave of nausea.
It was an eye-opener for me, and a sign.
Not every modern culture is for you
Some are a threat to your gut
Food ordering is among the top-ranking modern cultures.
We’ve normalized the idea of letting a stranger prepare and package our meals. Personally, I’m no stranger to Uber Eats, Domino’s Pizza, Bolt Food, and other apps.
It’s not a bad idea in itself, because convenience is useful, especially when life gets busy.
But the level of trust we place in the process, compared to how little we know about what happens in between, isn’t proportional.
Most times, it isn’t worth the risk. You only see two points. First, the menu item on your phone screen, then the meal when it reaches your hands. Everything else is hidden.
You don’t see the kitchen, who is cooking, whether the ingredients were washed properly, or how long the food sat out before packaging. It’s the most vulnerable point.
A clear example is the Salmonella outbreak of November 2025. It was linked to Metabolic Meals, a home-delivery service in the United States.
According to CDC investigations, meals delivered within one week were contaminated with Salmonella. Twenty-one people fell ill across 13 states, and eight had to be hospitalized.
The dishes looked normal when they arrived. They were sealed, properly labeled, and delivered like any other order.
I tapped into my inner chef
You never know what culinary skills you might be wasting
Cooking is a process I dread. It’s mostly because of the effort it requires after a long morning of meetings and errands. Still, I enjoy it when I really get into it.
I’ve been doing it more often lately because it gives me accountability and real control.
With meal delivery apps, you’re under the delusion that you’ve chosen your meal and cheated the responsibility of having to make it yourself. It’s why I replaced them with recipe apps.
At home, I know exactly what’s going into the preparation process. Plus, the cost savings are unbelievable.
Between December 2025 and now, I’ve saved over $40 by skipping meal delivery services.
These are certainties I’m no longer willing to outsource anymore.
After all, whatever you consume, consumes you in return. That includes your habits, media, relationships, and meals. So, food hygiene is non-negotiable, especially at this point in time.
The average burden of foodborne illnesses in the US alone is approximately 10 million illnesses every year from just seven major pathogens.
Over 53,000 people end up hospitalized, and close to a thousand deaths occur from contamination that most people never saw coming.
If you were to track the sources of contamination in many outbreaks, improper handling is at the core.
It’s your duty to eat responsibly
There are apps and even artificial intelligence for everything these days. But some responsibilities are better kept in your hands.
That said, you mustn’t become a full-time chef overnight. Start small with basic vegetables, cooked proteins, and simple sauces in your fridge.
This way, you’re not forced to order when you’re exhausted. When you do cook, make it enjoyable. I like to listen to music and podcasts on Deezer, or have someone nearby to keep me company.
If you’re ordering, stick to delivery apps you trust or places you’ve visited in person. Also, choose meals that are harder to mishandle.
Heavily cooked or grilled foods are better because heat kills the bacteria. Overall, make no excuses for your health. It’s your most priceless investment.
