29 Foods You Should Never Order for Delivery

Sometimes putting cold cuts between two slices of bread is more than one can manage on a weeknight, not to mention when the fridge is empty and so is the gas tank. We’ve all been there. Delivery is a modern godsend, especially now that our options extend beyond the standard pizza or Chinese takeout of yesteryear.

There are some things, however, that you might want to think twice about ordering. 24/7 Tempo reviewed health and nutrition articles as well as restaurant employee confessions, and compiled a list of 29 foods that you should never order for delivery. 

From listeria outbreaks to cold, sad steaks, and mold in virtually all soda fountain machines, there are many reasons why a little forethought and a homemade sandwich is well worth the effort. So far in 2019 almost every other day a new item is listed on the Food and Drug Administration’s recalls, market withdrawals, and safety alerts page — but these are the 31 absolute worst recalls of all time.

To compile a list of 29 foods that should not be ordered online, 24/7 Tempo considered foods that have a high risk of spoiling if transported over long distances or present a health risk if not kept in a cold container for a long period of time. We also reviewed health and nutrition articles as well as restaurant employee confessions.